Almost 4 years without my children-June 2019

I have not spoken to my three children in over 2 months now and I am extremely concerned for their welfare, particularly in light of current political unrest in Algeria. In Jan 2018, I made a number of requests to the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney, TD (Deatails below). My requests were ignored and I was advised that the Irish Government will not intervene as the Algerian Government consider this to be a family matter. The Irish Government have advised me to deal with an NGO in Algeria and basically put myself at the mercy of the Algerian Courts with no support whatsoever. Unlike the Halawa case, where Ibrahim was released from prison, the Irish Government recommend that I go to Algeria where I will most likely be imprisoned for breach of Court Order as the Algerian Courts have awarded my ex-husband a divorce and custody of all six children from the marriage ( My ex-husband abducted the 3 youngest children and left the older 3 children here, as he told me via text, now it's three all, (3-3), it's all a game to him).

I need help, please sign and share this petition, I need to see my children and not even being able to speak to them or even to know that they are safe is absolutely tearing me apart. Please help my children, thank you.

The following is a copy of my requests made, on behalf of Zaineb, Halimah and Hamza on 25th January 2018. Not one of my requests have been granted.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Tánaiste Simon Coveney

Department of Foreign Affairs

25th January 2018

Requests of behalf of three Irish children abducted to Algeria
 

1.      I hereby request that the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar make direct contact with Algerian President, Abdelaziz Boutaflika and Prime Minister, Ahmed Ouyahia in order to make them aware of the situation, in order to ensure that relevant Algerian authorities provide all necessary assistance in this case.

2.      I hereby request that the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Tánaiste Simon Coveney release a press release on the case of three Irish children abducted to Algeria.

As in the Halawa case (DFAT 2016, 2017), we request that this statement provides all information on what has been done to date and details the actions which the Department of Foreign Affairs intend to undertake in order to ensure that Zaineb, Halimah and Hamza Fekkar are returned to their home and loving family as soon as possible. There are 6,970 signatories to the petition (Appendix A), and 6,930 supporters on my children’s Facebook page (Appendix B), urging the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and the Irish Government to ensure that Zaineb, Halimah and Hamza are returned home as soon as possible, all of these concerned Irish citizens eagerly await an update on the work that has, and will be done, in order to end this nightmare for my children and bring three Irish citizens, home to Ireland.

3.      I request that the Department of Foreign Affairs engage with the Algerian authorities and arrange a visit to see Zaineb, Hamza and Halimah (who have received no consular assistance in over two and a half years), to ascertain their health and well-being. The human rights of my three vulnerable Irish children must be recognised by ensuring that the children ‘be made available for interview by a professionally qualified English-speaking Psychologist’, as ordered by Ms Justice O’ Hanlon order of the High Court order on 27th of July 2016 (Appendix C).

In November 2016, the Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed led a trade mission to Algeria, this illustrates the positive relationship between Ireland and Algeria. It is essential that a mission, be undertaken for the purpose of ensuring the basic Human Rights of three Irish children, specifically ‘Article 8 of European Convention on Human Rights - the right to a personal and family life’.

4.      I request that the case of three Irish children abducted to Algeria be made a high priority for the Irish Government. This case should receive unprecedented attention and resources in Dublin and Bern (Irish Embassy accredited to Algeria on a non-residential basis). We expect the government to make efforts to see Zaineb, Halimah and Hamza returned to Ireland without delay and we expect very high levels of consular care.

The following statement was made in a press release by the then Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan, in relation to the Halawa case,

"This case remains a high priority for the government and it continues to receive unprecedented attention and resources in Dublin and in Cairo. We will continue our efforts to see Ibrahim returned to Ireland without delay. In the interim we will continue to provide very high levels of consular care (DFAT 2016)."

There is no valid reason why three vulnerable Irish children should not receive an equally unprecedented amount of assistance from their Government, particularly as they are suffering from extreme distress and anxiety.

Yours faithfully

__________________

Gina Davis