Since they were born (1993 and 1996), my children Julien and Johann had lived in France. On July 17th 1998, I returned to my house to learn that my husband had moved back to Lebanon with our children without telling me anything.

I have started legal proceedings in Lebanon as well as in France. They resulted in opposite judgment: I was given official custody of my children in France and to their father in Lebanon, I was granted a divorce in France but not in Lebanon even though the father of my children had already remarried and had a new child (2002).

Even my parents, who live 10km away from Julien and Johann, have not been permitted to see them!!! They had obtained a judgment granting them the right to take care of the children every other week, but the father wouldn’t obey the judgment. There have been no consequences for his actions!

Since 1998, I’ve not been allowed any direct contact with Julien and Johann.

In 2001, in collaboration with the French consulate in Lebanon and the French Lebanese mixed committee, I went to Lebanon to try and resolve this diplomatically. But I had no idea I wouldn’t’ be allowed to return to France; I was « forbidden to leave the territory » for 2 months. I was only allowed to see my children 5 times during those 2 months and only with their father present and only at his sister's house. During this period, there were many high level negotiations but none of them were successful. Finally I was permitted to go back to France only on the condition that I drop all charges against my ex-husband. Pending my cooperation, I would be permitted weekly phone calls with my children. I returned to France in December of 2001.

Unfortunately, in these weekly phone calls, Julien and Johann would only answer with short answers (even sometimes only yes or no) and end up hanging up abruptly. My seven year of letters and gift went unanswered.

 Currently a law suit has started in France. The decision that was made recognize the father guilty, he was given a year suspended sentence, fined with 1500 euros and had to pay 1500 euros in damages. The father appealed...

The only news I have of my children is the report cards that their school sends every trimester.

I have no tried to return to Lebanon: I am afraid I will not be permitted to leave again.