A heartbroken mum-of-three has issued a message to her ex-husband after he "abducted" their children and fled to Libya.
Dawn Daley, 44, hasn't seen or heard from her children Khalid Aljehani, nine, Aasiyah, seven, and Maimunha, four since they were picked up by their father, Fares Aljehani, from their home in Wythenshawe on July 30.
Mr Aljehani plotted a ruse to take the kids on holiday to North Yorkshire, but in fact "clandestinely" boarded a flight to his home country of Libya, a High Court Judge has said.
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During a recent hearing at Family Division of the High Court in London, Mr Justice Peel said the children's father had 'wrongly removed' them from their mother and said the kids had been the victims of 'on the fact of it' a 'blatant abduction,' the PA news agency reports.
As the judge appealed for Mr Aljehani and the Libyan authorities to help bring the children back to the UK, Ms Daley also voiced her own pleas for their safe return.
"Fares, I urge you to do the right thing and bring the children home where they belong," she said. "It's been over three months since I last heard from my babies."
She added: "I can only imagine what’s going through their little minds. I could understand your doing what you have done if I ever restricted you having a relationship with them, but this is something I would never do as I believe children need both parents in their lives."
Speaking to the M.E.N, Ms Daley said she'd been forced to carry on with her life as best she can, but said the last three months had been extremely painful for her and her family.
"All I've been told is that the children are fine but I haven't seen them or spoken to them since July 30," she said. "I just need to see them. It would be easier to deal with this situation if there had been any kind of communication but I've had nothing at all.
"I know they love their dad but they are going to be wondering where their mum is. I have absolutely no idea how they are coping."
Mr Justice Peel said Mr Aljehani had been served with notification of legal proceedings, begun by Ms Daley, and his response had been to send a 'laughing emoji.'
"On the face of it, this father has perpetrated an act of great cruelty on these children and their mother," he added.
"Those children are now with their father and his family in Libya. The removal was under the ruse of a holiday which the father said he wished to take in England.
"Instead, he took them clandestinely to Libya. In so doing it seems to me that he acted unscrupulously and contrary to the needs of these children who have always lived in this country and have been in the primary care of their mother and attending school here.
"I would urge anybody who can do anything to assist the return of the children to this country to do so. That includes the father himself, his family and any judicial or other authorities in Libya who are minded to take appropriate steps."
Ms Daley said she and her family were attempting to 'keep busy' and said she was making plans to travel to Africa herself to speak to 'whoever she can.'
James Netto, who is representing the family, told PA news agency: "We remain gravely concerned for all three children. Ms Daley has had virtually no contact since their abduction from this country in the summer of 2022.
"Christmas is approaching and with each day that passes, the more painful it is for the children and for their mother. On behalf of Ms Daley, I urge you to do the right thing and bring these children home."
Greater Manchester Police have been contacted for an update on the investigation. In a previous statement, they said: "On the 10th August 2022, police received a report that three children aged 8, 6 and 4 were missing from their home in Wythenshawe.
"The children are believed to be with a family member. Enquiries are ongoing to trace the whereabouts of the children."
An FCDO spokesperson previously said: "We are providing assistance to the family of three children who have been reported missing and are in contact with Greater Manchester Police."
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 0161 8566051 quoting log number 3480 of the 10 th August 2022. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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