The judge of an Islamic court in Jordan postponed a schedule custody hearing until March 15 after receiving a request on Sunday by the the Muslim guardian of two minor children belonging to a Christian widow.

As reported by Compass News, the current appeals case is Siham Qandah's last lawsuit in a three-year battle since the Supreme Islamic Court of Jordan revoked her legal custody in February 2002 of her 16-year-old daughter, Rawan, and 15-year-old son, Fadi.

A final verdict was expected Sunday, Feb. 20, from Amman's Al-Abdali Sharia Court where Qandah's lawyer was arguing an appeals case to remove Abdullah al-Muhtadi as guardian of his client's children. Al-Muhtadi has been accused of financial improprieties for withdrawing nearly US$17,000 from the children's trust funds.

It was not clear why Judge Mahmud Zghl accepted the defendant’s request to postpone the case for still another month, however, according to Compass, Zghl reportedly assured Qandah that March 15 would be the final hearing.

Sunday’s session was the ninth scheduled hearing since Jordan’s Supreme Islamic Court accepted Qandah’s appeal last August, ordering the lower court to review the case and investigate the Muslim guardian. Al-Muhtadi failed to answer summons to appear for three of those court sessions, and the judge himself was on leave during one scheduled hearing.






Kenneth Chan
Ecumenical Press