On April 6, 2018, a heart-wrenching story began to unfold in Toronto, Ontario, with the disappearance of 10-year-old Rita Squalli and her younger sister, six-year-old Maria. The two sisters, both with brown hair and brown eyes, were last seen in the company of their father, Jawad Squalli-Housseini, who also goes by the name "Jay Squalli". He took the girls under the false pretense of visiting his allegedly ill mother in Morocco. This narrative, however, was a deception that would lead to a protracted international custody battle and leave a mother desperate for the return of her children.
Just two days after their departure from Canada, the girls' mother, Elena Danilina, received a call from her husband, not from Morocco, but from the United Arab Emirates. It was during this call that he informed her he would not be returning the children and demanded a divorce.
In the wake of this devastating news, Elena secured a court order in Ontario granting her sole custody and mandating the immediate return of Rita and Maria to Canada. The situation grew more complex when the father and children traveled to Morocco. Seizing this opportunity, Elena also went to Morocco to initiate legal proceedings under the Hague Convention, an international treaty designed to facilitate the prompt return of children who have been wrongfully removed or retained.
Despite a Moroccan court ordering the return of the children to Canada in November 2018, the legal victory did not translate into a physical reunion. Reports indicate that when the time came, the girls refused to board the plane back to Canada, and no further attempts to enforce the order have been successful. Complicating matters further, a custody order was issued in the United Arab Emirates in favor of the father. The case of Rita and Maria Squalli is a distressing example of international parental child abduction. What began as a supposed family visit evolved into a complex international legal struggle, leaving two young girls in the middle of a painful dispute. As of the latest available information, Rita and Maria are believed to be residing in Casablanca, Morocco, with their father, their return to Canada remaining uncertain.Last Seen: Apr 6, 2018
