On 2 June, Iranian Christian converts and asylum-seekers Sam Khosravi and Maryam Falahi attended an interview with Turkish immigration officials during which questions were raised about whether Sam and Maryam have legal custody over their adopted daughter Lydia (8).

The couple adopted Lydia from an orphanage in Bushehr in southwest Iran in February 2019 when she was a three-month-old baby. The adoption proceeded with the approval of the state welfare organisation.

In July 2019, Sam and Maryam were among seven Christian converts arrested in coordinated raids on their homes. In 2020, they were convicted of “membership of an illegal organisation”.

Also in 2020, an Iranian court ruled that Lydia be taken away from them because of their Christian faith, despite acknowledging their love and care for her. One hundred and twenty Iranian lawyers and activists wrote an open letter to the head of the judiciary in Iran, asking him to overturn the decision.

The couple fled to Türkiye with Lydia to ensure that the family stayed together and applied for international protection.

The issue of the couple’s legal custody of Lydia was raised for the first time at the immigration interview this week when Turkish officials said that Sam and Maryam need to have the 2020 Iranian court ruling annulled by a Turkish court. Sam pointed out that the ruling was issued by a Sharia-based religious court but the officials insisted that they go to a Turkish court even though it has no jurisdiction over the decision from the Iranian court.

During the interview, the officials threatened that Turkish social welfare authorities could remove Lydia from their custody. This  threat has understandably revived the anxieties that the family could be split, and Lydia left without a family and home.

Prayer Points

Middle East Concern has issued three prayer points:

Please pray that:

• God gives wisdom to Sam and Maryam in how to handle the issue and peace and assurance that they are in His hands.
• The Turkish immigration officials will seek viable solutions to the complex questions regarding the legal custody of Lydia.
• The family will be able to permanently resettle and establish a secure home in a third country.

(Article 18, Middle East Concern)

Image: Middle East Concern