Source: Article18, September 24, 2020
Lydia was just three months old when she was adopted by Iranian Christian converts Sam Khosravi and wife Maryam Falahi.
Now, just one month before her second birthday, a court ruled she must be taken away from them, as Sam and Maryam—who are currently appealing against convictions related to their membership of a house-church—are “not fit” to be her parents.
The ruling, handed down by a court in their home city of Bushehr, southwestern Iran, on July 19 but not reported until now, was upheld by a court of appeal on September 22, despite the judge in his initial verdict acknowledging that Lydia felt an “intense emotional attachment” to her adoptive parents and saying there was “zero chance” another adoptive family would be found for her, given Lydia’s health problems.
But that didn’t prevent [judge Muhammad Hassan Dashti] from ruling against Lydia’s adoptive parents—and for one reason: they are Christian converts, and Lydia, though her parentage is not known, is considered a Muslim, and as such by law ought only to be cared for by Muslim parents.
Sam and Maryam maintain that they were always clear about their conversion to Christianity; however, the judge ruled that Lydia—a nominally “Muslim” child—should never have been placed in their care.
» Full story includes photos and more context. A related article from Middle East Concern adds, “Sam, Maryam, and their friends request prayer that in this deeply distressing time for the family, the Lord will grant them his deep peace and work a miracle to allow Sam and Maryam to keep and care for Lydia as their adoptive child.”