GRANNY GETS BACK HER GRANDDAUGHTER’S GUARDIANSHIP

Khaldoun A., the daughter's father, had obtained the right to be the guardian of his daughter in return for granting divorce to her mother.

The maternal grandmother claimed the guardianship of the girl, and her father agreed. Two months later, the grandmother could no longer look after her, and she willingly gave up her guardianship to the father and had this documented legally.

One year later, the grandmother paid the girl a visit, but found her head completely shaved and noticed some violent marks of physical assault. The grandmother filed a lawsuit against the father claiming back the guardianship of the girl. The Khorfakkan Shariah Court of First Instance gave its verdict giving guardianship to the grandmother. The father and his sister then filed an appeal before the Sharjah Shariah Appeal Court, which upheld the verdict.

The girl's aunt, again, rejected the verdict and filed a lawsuit before the Supreme Federal Court, stating it was contrary to the law since it violates a Shariah basis.

The Supreme Federal Court supported the Appeal Court's decision, and said guardianship cannot be given to the aunt because of the abrogation of the father's guardianship.