The Muslim Observer:

On April 7, 1995, five of his children were taken away and they were placed in Christian homes. The basis of the removal of these children was that one of the children burnt the other two children with hot tea. The Berks County Children Youth Services on this basis and several other false allegations against Mr. & Mrs. Rahim found them to be unfit parents. These children have been placed in Christian homes away from their Islamic roots, Afghani traditions and culture. These children are living with various Christian couples. They are being taught Christian values, and are being taken every week to Church on Sundays. They are being transformed from their Islamic and Afghan roots to Christian way of life. They are being fed unhalaal meats and foods. They are not taken to the Masjid or local mosques. They are being restricted from learning or practicing Islam.

Mr. Rahim and his wife have been fighting in the courts valiantly to get their children back. He has been cleared of any wrongdoing by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare in Harrisburg, PA. However due to the American legal system, his case is constantly being pushed back every 6 months and basically being placed in limbo. This in turn is giving time for his children to stay with these Christian families and establish Christian values. Mr. Haji Abdul Rahim has been to Hajj 3 times. He is a highly religious man who loves his children and has spent the last 4 years of his life dedicated to fighting for their children in a court of law. Mr Rahim is a poor individual who cannot even afford a lawyer currently, yet this man works hard; he represents himself at every court date.

He recently had two more children, Sadiyah Rahim who was born on 1/26/98 and Fazlia Rahim who was born on 2/25/99. These children have been taken wrongly from their mother directly after she gave birth. These children were not even allowed to receive breast milk from their mother. They have ben placed in foster care also. He is now fighting for the return of his 7 children.

The mother is suffering from depression and emotional trauma. They are not allowed to see the first 5 children for any reason but they are allowed to visit the last two children for one hour every two weeks, but on two bases that they not speak Pashtu and they are not allowed to touch or hold them. This is clearly discrimination of language and parental birthrights. It is also difficult for the mother because she does not speak English at all, and Mr. Rahim's English is limited also. They are being placed at a disadvantage, are being discriminated against for these various reasons.

Please contact Haji Abdul Rahim about any question regarding his situation at Shahalemii@aol.com