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24/03/2009
Dubai Prison Mother Loses Custody Of Children
A British mother jailed in Dubai for adultery has lost her court battle to keep custody of her two children.
Marnie Pearce, originally from Bracknell, Berkshire, was found guilty of adultery by a Dubai court in November, after her Egyptian ex-husband, Ihab El Labban accused her of adultery.
Ms Pearce, 40, says her husband has made the accusations to gain custody of her two children, Laith, seven, and four-year-old Ziad, a claim he denies.
She has failed twice in her bid to appeal against the sentence, on charges she denies, but instead had her prison sentence cut from six to three months by Dubai's appeal court.
The 40-year-old will return to Bracknell when she is deported at the end of her sentence in May.
Sandy Norman, a friend of Ms Pearce, told the BBC the outcome of the hearing is disappointing but not unexpected.
Speaking from Dubai, she said: "As she was found guilty of adultery, it makes her an unfit mother and that was the basis for Ihab's case, adultery in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a criminal offence for a woman.
"To my knowledge no woman has won custody of her children in Dubai.
"It will be down to Marnie now to seek whatever custody rights from the UK when she returns."
She added: "To my knowledge I believe the custody for the boys only stands in the UAE and not in a non-Muslim country, but that will be for the lawyers to advise us on."
In a statement posted on campaign website Save Marnie's Babies, Ms Pearce said: "I have been the best mother that I could possibly have been.
"I may not be perfect but I have given them everything that God says you should give to your babies.
"They are my life and I would die for them. I really have battled and fought so hard and only God knows what lays ahead.
"I cannot even begin to put into words the feelings of desperation, loss, fear and numbness that I feel.
"It really is like something has been driven through my chest. I have the most horrendous worries that only a mum could ever have."
Ms Pearce met her ex-husband in Oman and the couple married in the Seychelles in September 1999.
They moved to Dubai after having their two children, but their marriage eventually broke down.
In March last year she was arrested and accused of committing adultery with a British man who she insists was only a friend.
(JM/BMcC)
Marnie Pearce, originally from Bracknell, Berkshire, was found guilty of adultery by a Dubai court in November, after her Egyptian ex-husband, Ihab El Labban accused her of adultery.
Ms Pearce, 40, says her husband has made the accusations to gain custody of her two children, Laith, seven, and four-year-old Ziad, a claim he denies.
She has failed twice in her bid to appeal against the sentence, on charges she denies, but instead had her prison sentence cut from six to three months by Dubai's appeal court.
The 40-year-old will return to Bracknell when she is deported at the end of her sentence in May.
Sandy Norman, a friend of Ms Pearce, told the BBC the outcome of the hearing is disappointing but not unexpected.
Speaking from Dubai, she said: "As she was found guilty of adultery, it makes her an unfit mother and that was the basis for Ihab's case, adultery in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a criminal offence for a woman.
"To my knowledge no woman has won custody of her children in Dubai.
"It will be down to Marnie now to seek whatever custody rights from the UK when she returns."
She added: "To my knowledge I believe the custody for the boys only stands in the UAE and not in a non-Muslim country, but that will be for the lawyers to advise us on."
In a statement posted on campaign website Save Marnie's Babies, Ms Pearce said: "I have been the best mother that I could possibly have been.
"I may not be perfect but I have given them everything that God says you should give to your babies.
"They are my life and I would die for them. I really have battled and fought so hard and only God knows what lays ahead.
"I cannot even begin to put into words the feelings of desperation, loss, fear and numbness that I feel.
"It really is like something has been driven through my chest. I have the most horrendous worries that only a mum could ever have."
Ms Pearce met her ex-husband in Oman and the couple married in the Seychelles in September 1999.
They moved to Dubai after having their two children, but their marriage eventually broke down.
In March last year she was arrested and accused of committing adultery with a British man who she insists was only a friend.
(JM/BMcC)
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