Portsmouth mum's petition to get her children back nears its target

A HEARTBROKEN Portsmouth mother's petition to have her children returned from Oman has almost reached the 10,000 signatures needed to get a response from politicians.
By The Newsroom
Published 31st Mar 2016, 06:01 BST
Lacey Plato with her children Aishah and FarisLacey Plato with her children Aishah and Faris
Lacey Plato with her children Aishah and Faris

Lacey Plato launched the petition to get back her seven-year-old son Faris and 10-year-old daughter Aishah earlier this month.

The children were abducted by their father, Usama Al-Barwani, from their Portsmouth home in 2012.

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He ignored a High Court order to return the children to their mother and was arrested and jailed upon his return to Britain.

He is refusing to return the children to Lacey and Faris and Aishah remain in Oman, where they are being cared for by relatives.

Lacey’s petition currently has more than 9,700 signatures, and needs just a few hundred more to be considered by politicians.

She is hoping to finally get some answers about why this is being allowed to happen.

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She said: ‘I would like the government to say “We are going to try to help you. We are going to open a line of communications with the Oman government”.

‘I recently found out my children travel to Dubai with their father’s family.

‘Why can’t somebody stop them? Why aren’t Interpol stopping them from doing that?

‘Why are two British children being allowed to travel like this with no parental permission?

‘No-one has custody of them. I want answers.’

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Prior to launching the petition, Lacey hadn’t had contact with her children for 11 months and that has not changed.

Lacey said: ‘I have had contact from his family members in Portsmouth.

‘They have not taken kindly to the fact I have set up this petition and taken it to the media, but they have still not allowed me any contact with my kids.’

Lacey has until April 19 to get as many signatures as she can.

She said: ‘It takes two minutes of your time.

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‘Those two minutes could get me that little bit closer to being reunited with my children.

‘I have had a lot of support from parents.

‘As a parent you would not wish it upon anyone.

‘No parent would want this for their kids. Just take a couple of minutes to sign this petition for mine.’

If you would like to sign the petition, visit https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/110453.

Related topics:PortsmouthBritainHigh Court