Update on Wael and MuadhEarlier this year, we featured the case of Wael, and his British son Muadh, his son who is desperate to escape Syria. There is now some very welcome news on this front. (Previous piece : http://britcits.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/syrian-dad-appeals-to-british-foreign.html )
BBC: British boy and mother escape Syria after three yearshttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-27791202'The mother of a British boy who had been trapped in Syria for three years has spoken exclusively to the BBC after he finally reached safety by crossing the border into Jordan.'For half his life, six year old Muadh Zein, has been trapped in war. When he was three-and-a-half his Syrian mother took him to see her family near Deraa, the opposition stronghold where the Syrian uprising began in 2011.
'Less than a week ago, he and his mother crossed into Jordan and safety. But it's a stop his family hope will be temporary, as the Birmingham-born boy and his mother try to get back to the UK.
'Muadh sits quietly now, on the cushions on the floor of his uncle's house in Jordan. They are still close enough to the border with Syria to hear the shelling. Muadh sits impassively as another boom is heard in the distance... '
Online petition - 'Bring Muadh home' :https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/bring-muadh-home-1'UPDATE - 09/06/14 I'm really pleased to confirm that my son Muadh and his mother just managed to cross from Syria into Jordan. I would like to thank you for the fantastic support which I believe pushed the British authorities to act. Without you all, I don't think it would have been possible. ''My six-year-old son Muadh Zain is in a war zone and can’t get home to Birmingham.
'He’s stuck in Syria with his British passport, only minutes away from safety. If the UK foreign minister speaks out in support, the Jordanian government will open the border to Muadh to come home. The UK government has a huge amount of influence over the Jordanian authorities due to the deep ties between the two countries. So far, William Hague has stayed silent, but if enough of us pressure him, we could get him to act.
'Muadh was with his favourite uncle when a barrel bomb exploded close to them. He survived, but witnessed the death of his uncle. In another attack, Muadh again survived but witnessed a relative sustain a severe head injury.
'After suffering through a period of intense bombing, my son has now developed a permanent convergent squint to his right eye, an eye condition that requires immediate medical attention. I have shown a photo of him to his GP in Birmingham, who has advised me that Muadh must undergo an immediate operation.
'My son has seen more horror in his six years than most adults see in a lifetime. Muadh has become traumatised as a result of the first-hand violence he has witnessed. He has stopped speaking, and is suffering physically and emotionally on a day-to-day basis. '
