My name is Joanna.  In March 2005 I left Canada with my 15 month old daughter, Maria (nicknamed Amira). We settled in Greece until I ran into a serious problem and was advised by a Jordanian colleague that as my husband would be able to track me down very easily in Athens, I should settle down somewhere unlikely e.g. Jordan where we would be safer.

We spent over two wonderful years in Amman, Jordan.  I gave up my office job to teach at the same kindergarten my daughter attended, this way I did not require a nanny or full-time babysitter during school holidays or after school, which meant I had a lot more time to spend with my little princess.

While renewing my annual work/residence permit, the serious problem reared its ugly head again... I was wanted by interpol. Amira and I left our home in Amman to spend Xmas with my parents and try to come up with a solution. Being Dutch, we came to the conclusion that my best chance of finding help and protection would be in my own country, as Amira is also Dutch by birth (and was even added to my passport). Wrong conclusion...

 A few days after our arrival, I was arrested as a direct result of my parents being arrested in U.K. and interrogated in court to give up our location. Amira was teken by Jeugdzorg Utrecht and placed in a foster family.

On April 23rd 2008, the 'S-Gravenhage court decided that Amira should return to Canada as per the Hague Convention (even though she had been away for over 3 years) the main reason for this decision was because Canada had requested my extradition to face charges of parental child abduction (for which sentencing can be 1-10 years), therefore there was no guarantee I would even be able to stay in the Netherlands.

Amira left 6 days after the decision. For five weeks I struggled to arrange telephone contact and finally succeeded. Now Amira and I speak every 3 weeks. During our last conversation she told me she is going to find an airplane and fly back to me. If only younger children's opinions or at the very least their needs were taken into consideration in court. I am still afraid of my husband and his family, but I miss my daughter so much, I can't bear the thought of not seeing her for years.  In Quebec, my husband has the right to withdraw the charges and arrest warrant, but he has not done so.

As for the Interpol Red Notice - it was not even mentioned in the request for extradition, because the allegations on that notice have nothing to do with the case, they were put up there so I would be found; Kidnapping and Crimes Against Children, oh, and according to Interpol, I am Canadian. I have tried to take legal action against them from here, and sought advice from the offices of mr.Spong and mr. Moskowicz but apparently this can only be done within Canada, in the meantime I have aksed Interpol Headquarters in France to look into the situation and find out who is responsible.

For now I am about to appeal my daughter's case and Cassatie regarding my extradition.

I wish all the other mums in similar situations the strength, hope and courage to persevere. Don't GIVE up, SPEAK up, eventually we will be heard instead of ignored and then perhaps this will no longer happen to more mums and children.