Dubai: Dubai Police have helped reunite a mother with her daughter 17 years after they got separated due to family disputes.
The mother, of European nationality, sought help from Dubai Police as she had failed to obtain the whereabouts of her daughter.
Brigadier Dr Mohammad Al Murr, director of the Human Rights Department at Dubai Police, said they helped the mother despite the absence of any known contacts for the daughter.
“She couldn’t see her daughter for 17 years and came to Dubai to ask for help. We managed to reach the daughter who is married and has a baby girl, and reunited them,” Brigadier Dr Al Murr said.
Lieutenant-Colonel Saeed Rashid, director of the police’s Women and Children’s Protection Department, said the mother was married to a Gulf national 20 years ago and the couple had a daughter but due to family disputes, the mother left the country taking her daughter with her to her home country.
Consequently, the husband filed for divorce and sought custody of his daughter but before the matter could be resolved, he died. The issue was then pursued by the girl’s uncle.
“The mother returned to the country after a year with her daughter and stayed until the daughter turned two years of age. Subsequently, she was deported because she had violated the residency law and her daughter stayed back with her uncle,” informed Lt-Col Rashid.
Over several years, the mother tried to get back in touch with her daughter but failed to locate her as the uncle had changed his residence.
She was advised by a friend to seek help from the Dubai Police.
Based on the court records, Dubai Police managed to trace the uncle. “He guided us to the daughter who has turned 19, is married and has a baby girl,” Lt-Col Rashid added.
Police convinced the daughter to meet with her mother and the two had an emotional reunion. “The uncle was also present during the reunion. It is wrong to cut the bond between a mother and her daughter,” Lt-Col Rashid said.
The mother thanked Dubai Police for their efforts in reuniting her with her family and following her son-in-law’s wish that she stay with her daughter, she has initiated the process of obtaining a residency for herself on her daughter’s sponsorship.
The Women and Children’s Protection Department has received 45 incidences so far this year including 18 cases related to children, 13 cases of domestic abuse, negligence of women and negligence and 14 cases requiring social support.
