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Beirut Blast Survivor Loses Custody Of Her Son
A day that was meant to be a celebratory one quickly turned into a living nightmare for Liliane Cheaito, who fell into a coma after being severely injured by the August 4 blast while shopping at Beirut Souks.
Liliane, who is the mother to month-an-a-half old Ali, had gone shopping at Beirut Souks in order to buy and ship a birthday present to her husband who lives in Africa a week ahead of his birthday. The very same husband who five months later would go to religious court and seek sole custody of the child.
After August 4th, Liliane fell into a coma for 25 days and upon awakening, she fell into a vegetative state. She was only capable of opening her eyes, but over the course of several months, her therapy was successful in helping her regain her ability to move and respond.
However, according to her family, there is a major issue delaying Liliane’s full recovery. After the explosion, her husband returned from Africa and took her son Ali away from her, planning to eventually leave the country and start a new life for the baby away from his mother.
According to Liliane’s father, her husband came to visit her for only a few hours (about a month after the explosion occurred) before he forbode Liliane and her family from seeing the baby.
Doctors and her family believe that seeing her son could speed up Liliane’s recovery. Sadly, laws in Lebanon could not help Liliane’s case, as the father was granted full control over the child, including with whom the child will be staying.
The case sparked outrage and led to an eventual response from a judge who fought for Liliane’s case. Although the court ruling forbids her husband from taking the child out of the country, Liliane is only allowed to see baby Ali for just 4 hours a day.
Again, the Lebanese government, judicial system, and religious courts prove their patriarchal nature and incompetence in protecting a mother and her child.
Liliane, who is the mother to month-an-a-half old Ali, had gone shopping at Beirut Souks in order to buy and ship a birthday present to her husband who lives in Africa a week ahead of his birthday. The very same husband who five months later would go to religious court and seek sole custody of the child.
— alia awada (@AlyaAwada) January 2, 2021
After August 4th, Liliane fell into a coma for 25 days and upon awakening, she fell into a vegetative state. She was only capable of opening her eyes, but over the course of several months, her therapy was successful in helping her regain her ability to move and respond.
However, according to her family, there is a major issue delaying Liliane’s full recovery. After the explosion, her husband returned from Africa and took her son Ali away from her, planning to eventually leave the country and start a new life for the baby away from his mother.
According to Liliane’s father, her husband came to visit her for only a few hours (about a month after the explosion occurred) before he forbode Liliane and her family from seeing the baby.
Doctors and her family believe that seeing her son could speed up Liliane’s recovery. Sadly, laws in Lebanon could not help Liliane’s case, as the father was granted full control over the child, including with whom the child will be staying.
The case sparked outrage and led to an eventual response from a judge who fought for Liliane’s case. Although the court ruling forbids her husband from taking the child out of the country, Liliane is only allowed to see baby Ali for just 4 hours a day.
Again, the Lebanese government, judicial system, and religious courts prove their patriarchal nature and incompetence in protecting a mother and her child.
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