Stateless Child Left in Limbo After High Court Denies Paternity Claim

A child faces statelessness after the High Court upheld a Family Court verdict that a Maldivian man cannot be declared the father. The child was born to a Maldivian man and an Indonesian woman who married abroad on 19 April 2007; the child was born on 9 September 2007, less than six months after marriage. The mother left for Indonesia and never returned. Islamic law requires at least six months. Justice Mohamed Niyaz called state's attempts 'shocking'. Judge Huzaifa Mohamed dissented.

A child faces statelessness after the High Court upheld a Family Court verdict that a Maldivian man cannot be declared the father. The child was born to a Maldivian man and an Indonesian woman who married abroad on 19 April 2007; the child was born on 9 September 2007, less than six months after marriage. The mother left for Indonesia and never returned. Islamic law requires at least six months. Justice Mohamed Niyaz called state's attempts 'shocking'. Judge Huzaifa Mohamed dissented.

A child faces statelessness after the High Court upheld a Family Court verdict that a Maldivian man cannot be declared the father. The child was born to a Maldivian man and an Indonesian woman who married abroad on 19 April 2007; the child was born on 9 September 2007, less than six months after marriage. The mother left for Indonesia and never returned. Islamic law requires at least six months. Justice Mohamed Niyaz called state's attempts 'shocking'. Judge Huzaifa Mohamed dissented.

This story involves 1 source and may affect public understanding of paternity / stateless child.