Ambassador asks Beirut to let girls leave for US
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The American Ambassador, Vincent Battle, has asked the Lebanese government to allow three girls – who are caught in a custody battle between their Lebanese father and American mother – to leave for the United States.
Two of the girls have been at the embassy since last week. The third has been with her father. They used to live in Brownfield, Texas.
A foreign ministry official, said Mr Battle placed the request with the Foreign Ministry secretary general, Mohammed Issa, who deferred action while the father's case is settled in the courts. The father has sought court action against "anyone who is found guilty of his two daughters' kidnapping".
The case surfaced last week after Lebanese authorities barred two of the girls, both teenagers, from leaving the country. Their father, Behnam Slim, who divorced his wife nine years ago and returned to Lebanon with the girls, claims the mother did not seek custody of the daughters. He has not identified his former wife. Mr Slim also said his wife had only visited Lebanon twice in the past two years to see the children.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments