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A woman whose five-year-old daughter was taken by her father from Newfoundland to his home country of Egypt says she now has legal custody of her child — but finding her has been difficult.
Bouchra Marbouhi says she was granted custody of her daughter in late December after travelling to the city of Alexandria and making an application in court.
On Dec. 23, an Egyptian court determined that the child’s “best interests are undoubtedly served by her mother” and ordered the child returned to Marbouhi immediately.
However, when police and Marbouhi’s lawyer went to get the girl this month, she said her estranged husband Ahmed ElGammal fled.
“He is in hiding. Now his family is telling me that he’s still hiding and they don’t know where [he is],” Marbouhi said in a recent interview from Alexandria.
The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary issued an arrest warrant for ElGammal, 36, in late October on charges of abduction in contravention of a custody or parenting order. The Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador’s family division ordered last spring that the girl not be removed from the St. John’s metro area.
Marbouhi has not seen her daughter — who CBC News is not identifying at this time — since the girl left with her father for a sleepover, on Sept. 27, 2025. The case exposed vulnerablities in the system which allowed ElGammal to leave Canada in contrary to a court order.
Shady Abdellatif, an Egypt-based lawyer who specializes in international abduction cases, has taken on Marbouhi’s case.
Abdellatif believes ElGammal was tipped off before he and police went to the ElGammal family home, which allowed the father and daughter to leave before police got there.
By law, Abdellatif says, after three unsuccessful attempts at getting the girl back, a criminal case can be launched against ElGammal and his mother.
“When we get a criminal decision against them, they must deal with us and give us [Marbouchi’s daughter],” Abdellatif said.
A St. John’s mother whose daughter was taken out of Canada by her estranged husband has gotten a custody order from a court in Egypt. But Bouchra Marbouhi says finding her little girl is proving to be a challenge. Ariana Kelland reports.
Abdellatif said it would be helpful in finding the father and daughter if Egyptian Interpol officials receive a red notice from Canadian Interpol officials. To date, Abdellatif said he doesn’t believe that has happened.
The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary confirmed to CBC News in November that it applied for a red notice with Interpol for ElGammal.
A red notice is a request for law enforcement “to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action. ”
Interpol told CBC News it could not comment on whether or not a red notice was issued and steered inquiries to Canadian officials.
The RNC did not answer CBC’s question about the status of the red notice, citing the need to protect the integrity of the investigation.
However, in an emailed statement, the force said it is working with “all the appropriate agencies in an effort to confirm the safety of the child.”
The RCMP said its National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains is not the lead on the investigation and could not speak to CBC’s specific questions.
The Department of Justice Canada told CBC News it “is not responsible for criminal investigations or prosecutions and does not handle [Interpol] red notices.”
“We have the right to take her,” said Abdellatif, adding they just need to find her location.
Meanwhile, Abdellatif says ElGammal has applied for a travel ban that would restrict Marbouhi from leaving the country with their daughter. Marbouhi is opposing the ban.
“I feel so much better being here, close to her and much better that Mr. Shady is here with me,” Marbouhi said. “I have full trust in him that I will get [her] back.”
Over $10K raised for reunification efforts
Marbouhi says she couldn’t have done this without the help of Canadians who donated money to her cause, and two Newfoundland women who made the journey to Alexandria to accompany Marbouhi.
“I could not let her do this alone,” said Elyse McGrath, chair of Violence Prevention Avalon East. “She’s like a sister to me at this point.”
McGrath has been acting as an advocate for Marbouhi.
“I’m a mother, I have a five year old. I could be in her situation. It’s the luck of the draw where you live,” McGrath said.
The Hague Convention provides a roadmap to return a child who was wrongfully taken by a parent from one country to another, while accepting any court orders that have been made in the country where the child was taken from.
However, Egypt is not a Hague country.
It’s now up to Marbouhi’s lawyer and police to locate the girl and reunite her with her mother.
“I just want to say that I’m very grateful for Canada, Canadian people, Newfoundlanders, they were huge support for me,” Marbouhi said.
“I’m very grateful for you guys and I appreciate that. I will never forget that. It means a lot to me.”
