British Father's Legal Battle for Son Taken to Peru Highlights International Child Abduction Challenges

A British father is in an emotional struggle, fearing he may never see his six-year-old son again after the boy's mother took him to Peru and did not return. Asim Hanif, 48, of West London, described feeling "emotionally wrecked" since his son, Aidan, was taken by his Peruvian-born mother, Karen Perales, in March 2024.

The couple, who divorced in July 2023 after four years of marriage, had agreed to shared custody. Perales traveled with Aidan to Lima to visit her family, but they failed to board their flight back to the UK a week later, subsequently disappearing. Hanif stated that her actions were in breach of a consent court order detailing joint custody and living arrangements.

Following the incident, Hanif initiated proceedings under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, to which Peru is a signatory. The British embassy in Peru has issued a diplomatic note on his behalf. He is currently awaiting the outcome of an appeal after an initial judge acknowledged that Aidan had been wrongfully kept in Peru but was unwilling to order his return due to the time elapsed.

Mr. Hanif has made multiple trips to Peru in an effort to see his son. He was able to have brief court-supervised visits and speak with Aidan by phone earlier this month while his appeal was under consideration. "When we saw each other again, Aidan wouldn't let go of me," Hanif said, noting his son has autism and had been receiving specialized care in the UK. He expressed a desire for an amicable solution, emphasizing that Aidan needs both parents and should be where he was brought up.

Advocacy group Fathers4Justice is supporting Hanif's legal efforts. Group founder Matt O’Connor stated that the case highlights the inadequacy of current legislation in addressing international child abduction. He called for more effective measures from the British government to prevent children from being taken abroad without consent and criticized the Hague Convention as insufficient.

The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) confirmed they are supporting the family and are in contact with Peruvian authorities.