A MOTHER and her two-year-old child have finally returned home to India, ending an ordeal that began two years ago.
Yashmin Ansari, aged 30, and daughter Malak boarded an Etihad Airways flight to Mumbai yesterday morning after exit passes were issued to them by Bahrain Government authorities.
The happy ending was thanks to the dedicated and determined efforts of the Pravasi Legal Cell (PLC), which is a non-governmental organisation working to empower people with the power of law, and the assistance of Bahrain’s immigration authorities, and the health and information ministries.
The sad saga of Ms Ansari, who worked in a manpower agency in Bahrain, began when she met and married a Pakistani man in September 2020.
She gave birth to Malak at Salmaniya Medical Complex in January 2021, but found it difficult to obtain a birth certificate for her daughter due to the gap between marriage and delivery, and the husband’s alleged refusal to accept the child as theirs.
In a letter addressed to PLC country head Sudheer Thirunilath, Ms Ansari claimed that her husband and his family mistreated her, and kicked her and Malak out of the house in 2021.
The couple divorced the same year, and since then the mother and child were helped by community workers and a private company.
“This was a complex case and we filed three court cases after receiving the Power of Attorney through Indian Embassy lawyer Tariq Alowin,” Mr Thirunilath told the GDN yesterday.
“We pursued two cases at the High Sharia Court which were for DNA testing and the issuance of a birth certificate, both of which were unfortunately rejected.
“Additionally, we filed a case for the amendment of the marriage date, which the court agreed after reviewing the details and witness testimonies.
“However, due to the absence of parents during the marriage and non-payment of mehr (dowry), the court finally rejected the case.”
Due to the lack of a birth certificate from the authorities, Mr Thirunilath said they approached the Information Ministry, providing comprehensive evidence, including marriage and divorce records, hospital documentation and court judgements.
“After understanding the urgency and sensitivity of the situation, they graciously agreed to assist us, and along with the co-operation of health authorities, we were able to obtain a certificate of delivery and birth notification.”
Mr Thirunilath thanked the immigration, health, information and SMC authorities for their help in getting the clearance for this complex case.
“We would like to express our deep gratitude to all the individuals and organisations who played a crucial role in achieving this outcome including contributions from the embassy officials and personnel for their unwavering support.”
He added that the ex-husband also gave a no-objection statement to immigration authorities that cleared the final hurdle for the mother and child to go back to India, with the Devji Group providing the tickets.
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