Dozens of lawyers and civil activists call for overturning ruling separating two-year-old child from Christian couple
Dozens of lawyers and civil activists in a letter to Iran’s head of the judiciary described the Bushehr court’s ruling on separating a two-year-old child from a newly converted Christian couple and revoking their guardianship as violating multiple principles of the constitution.
A letter signed by 121 lawyers and civil activists was published on Wednesday, October 23rd, by the Borna news agency, addressing the case of Lydia, a 22-month-old child who had been under the guardianship of Maryam Fallahi and Sam Khosravi since seven weeks of age, but the Bushehr court has ruled to revoke their guardianship at the request of the Welfare Organization.
The letter references articles twelve and thirteen of the constitution and states that those who belong to religions explicitly mentioned in the constitution should have no restrictions in requesting guardianship.
According to the signatories of the letter, the legislator in laws related to child guardianship has stipulated that Iranian citizens who meet the conditions in terms of financial capability and moral integrity can apply to the Welfare Organization for guardianship, and in no part of these laws and regulations is there any mention of the applicants’ religion or sect.
The aforementioned letter also addresses Lydia’s health condition, stating that she suffers from severe heart disease, and the Bushehr court, without considering jurisprudential rules, religious and humanitarian commonalities, and the best interest and health of this child, has ruled to revoke her guardianship.
The letter ultimately requests Ibrahim Raisi, Iran’s head of the judiciary, to immediately issue the necessary orders to halt the implementation of the Bushehr court’s ruling.
