French-Israeli father. Turkish mother.

Child had triple citizenship, but was born and raised in Israel.

Mother and child depart for Turkey to spend a holiday with Mother’s parents in 2004.

And stay there. Permanently.

An Israeli court promptly orders the return of the child to Israel under the Hague Convention in the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Both Turkey and Israel are parties to the Hague Convention.

The Turkish courts agreed with the Israeli courts and upheld consistent orders through two levels of appeals.

The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg also agreed with the Israeli courts.

But the little girl remains in Turkey.

For months, the father had no contact with his child.

Then, he was allowed biweekly visits for a time.

But the little girl remains in Turkey.

This where both involved countries are members of the Hague Convention.

Read more in this Turkish Today’s Zaman article: [FAMILY TRAGEDY] From Tel Aviv to Ä°stanbul: One man’s search for his daughter.