Abu Dhabi: A mother of four is in desperate need of financial support and legal advice after her ex-husband left the country with the children’s passports.
Mona, a 39-year-old Jordanian who did not wish be identified by her real name, said her Jordanian ex-husband left the country in September 2015 with their children’s passports after the court ruled that he had to provide support money and awarded the children’s custody to her.
“He is doing this to hurt me. He didn’t like the court’s ruling so he wants to try and make us leave the UAE,” she claimed.
Her ex-husband’s unexpected departure from the country has left Mona and her four children without any money. The rent for the house, which is still in his name, has not been paid, along with utility bills, school fees and other basic daily expenses.
“I am lost. I really don’t know how to solve this, that’s the only reason I am speaking with you [media],” she said, reiterating how embarrassed she would be if people she knew found out about the extent of her money troubles.
Her mind is constantly engaged with stressful thoughts about the coming school year, when she has to present valid visas for her four children aged seven, eight, 14 and 16 to enrol them. The stress of the hefty school fees is another matter.
The development of one of the children who has special needs is being affected due to their financial situation as she has not received the speciality care and diet that she requires. “I don’t know why he is punishing her. Who does this to their own child?”
“I am really worried because they don’t even have health insurance. What if something happens to them?” she said as she fought to hold back tears.
As she struggles to make ends meet she is frightened of what the future holds as she pursues a court case against her ex-husband on her own. She said he has filed a letter from Jordan stating he wants to move the children to Jordan.
“If I felt there is even a one per cent chance that he actually wants the children, I would let him have them,” she said, while stating she does not believe that he has any real interest in the children as he has made no attempt to even speak to them for about a year.
Among the endless list of ordeals she claims her ex has put them through is sending his brother to the authorities to cut their electricity, which was subsequently reconnected when she contacted the authorities.
“He knows the children are here, so why does he [ex-husband] put them through this? And his family help him. This is not good for the children and it scares them.”
Mona and her immediate family have been living in the UAE since she was 13 years old. “I was married here, my children were all born here. I have nothing and no one in Jordan.”
She has been borrowing money from her family to get by but she said she cannot ask them to support five people on a regular basis as “that’s too much”. Mona said she gave up a job of almost 10 years when her then husband made her give up work. She is now looking for a job and hopes with the help of an expert lawyer she can win the court case and get back the children’s passports. “I am desperate, I don’t know what I will do if he takes my children.”
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