London father appeals Peru ruling over son’s return after delays
Asim Hanif, a father from west London, says he fears he may never see his six-year-old son Aidan again after the boy’s mother did not return with him from a family visit to Peru in March 2024. A Peruvian judge accepted that Aidan was wrongfully kept there and that his habitual residence was the UK, but rejected Hanif’s return application because of the time that had passed.
Hanif is appealing and expects a decision within weeks; he has travelled to Peru seven times and recently saw Aidan during brief, court-supervised visits. He began proceedings under the Hague Convention in July 2024, but the case was not heard until April this year. He is calling for more legal options for parents whose children are taken abroad without their consent.
- Aidan’s father is appealing for his son’s return from Peru.
- A judge recognised Aidan was wrongfully kept there but rejected the return request.
- Hanif recently saw Aidan during supervised visits.
New here? Start with this
Asim Hanif's six-year-old son Aidan was taken to Peru by the boy's mother in March 2024 for what was meant to be a family visit. The mother did not return with the child to their home in west London, keeping him in Peru instead.
The Hague Convention is an international agreement that protects children when parents take them abroad without permission. Countries that sign up to it are supposed to return children to where they normally live if they have been wrongfully removed or kept there.
A Peruvian court has agreed that Aidan was wrongfully kept in Peru and should be in the UK, but rejected Hanif's application to bring his son home because of how much time has passed since the child was taken. Hanif's case highlights growing concerns about delays in these cases and the impact on families separated across borders.
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by Daily Mail as “‘Heartbroken’ British father fears he’ll never see his six-year-old son again after boy’s mother took him to Peru – and authorities say they are powerless to act”.