A BOURNEMOUTH woman says she is “utterly devastated” her beautiful granddaughter has been kidnapped in Egypt for a second time.
Barbara Maas, of Throop, says her daughter Leila is going through “unimaginable pain” after five-year-old A’ishah failed to return from an access visit with her father Saber Mesbah Sabra.
A’ishah was just two when she first went missing in May 2009while on an access visit to see her father in the resort of Hurghada. Leila fought an eight-month custody battle and was finally reunited with her in January 2010.
Leila managed to secure full custody of her daughter through the Egyptian courts but was not allowed to leave Egypt because a travel ban had been placed on A’ishah.
But three months ago A’ishah failed to return from an arranged access visit with her father and the 35-year-old has been unable to receive any help from the Egyptian authorities to get her back.
She has now returned to England to put pressure on the government to help her.
Speaking to the Daily Echo, Leila said: “I cannot believe this has happened again.
“I am terrified something will happen to A’ishah as Egypt is not a safe place at the moment.
“In a way I am not surprised this has happened because we were in constant hiding and the revolution has left the whole country in chaos.
“While I got full custody of A’ishah, I was not able to leave the country – they stopped me from leaving twice.
“I want to make an appeal to David Cameron to help me.”
Barbara, who hasn’t seen A’ishah for three years due to the unrest in Egypt, said: “I cannot believe this has happened all over again. It has been such a traumatic time but Leila has come back fighting and I am completely behind her.
“She is going through hell.
“She is not just fighting for her and A’ishah she is fighting for all the other mothers who have lost their children out there.”
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: “We are aware of the consular case in Egypt and are providing consular assistance.”
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