Monday May 7, 2007 - NOT WITHOUT MY DAUGHTER - Source: A Current Affair
Our first contact with Sam came via email. "All I want is for help to be with my daughter again. It has been 135 days since I've seen my daughter," she wrote.
I contacted Sam, who is currently living in Egypt for more information.
On hearing more of her plight and the lack of assistance from government agencies; we knew we had to help. Reporter Amanda Paterson, cameraman Tim Hawkins, sound man Charles Davey and I boarded a flight bound for Cairo.
We will always remember that first day with Sam. Nervously clutching her handbag, containing her precious photos and travel documents, she told us about her whirlwind marriage to Mohamed Okba and the birth of her daughter, Levana.
Mohamed's family live in Tanta, located between Cairo and Alexandria. Our Egyptian guide told us this country town is definitely not the place for Westerners, particularly women. The minder told us we were to keep our wits about us at all times and reminded both Amanda and myself we were not to remove our headscarves at any time. The following day we drove to Tanta in convoy. It was just plain frightening.
The disrespectful behaviour of some of the men in Egypt towards us as Western women was just incredible. We were hissed at constantly. We were pushed and shoved. Even in our hotel, I was assaulted by an Egyptian businessman in the lift, while his male colleague watched on.
The looks and the hissing we received from locals in the town were also disturbing. We couldn't stop our vehicles by the side of the road because within seconds we were surrounded by tourism police, keen to know our reason for being there.
We confronted Mohamed's family, who wouldn't tell us where Levana is, and then we made a high speed exit. The local police had been told of our presence by the town's Mufti. Our experienced Egyptian minder, who has worked with American TV networks in the past, even admitted her nerves were rattled.
It's hard to believe Sam lives in this place and has done so by herself since the end of last year.
We had hoped that while we were in Egypt the Australian Embassy would finally be able to give Sam some good news. In Cairo we spoke to Australian Ambassador in Egypt, Robert Bowker to find what was going on. For a look at the department's official response click here.
The Ambassador tried to assure us he was doing his level best to help Sam but couldn't tell us whether she would see her little girl again or not.
During the course of our stay we visited many other locations where Mohamed might have been hiding. We showed Levana's photo to locals hoping somebody might recognise her. Our requests for help were often met with open hostility and aggression.
It was heartbreaking to say goodbye to Sam and leave her in Egypt alone. She is a warm, kind person who deserves to have her child returned to her.
Sam's story will stay with us for the rest of our lives.
By Alex Hind, ACA producer
Tue 08/05/07
Last night we bought you the heart-breaking story of one mother's battle to find her missing child.
Late last year Samantha Cambridge's five-year-old daughter Levana was taken from Australia to Egypt by her estranged husband, Levana's father.
Sam's heartfelt plea for help was one ACA couldn't ignore. Producer Alex Hind gives an update on Sam's search.
The man at the centre of this international custody dispute, Levana's father, has contacted ACA. He sent us an emailing explaining why he had taken his child from her Australian mother, Sam Cambridge. "I've abducted our daughter because Samantha refused to be a Muslim. Our daughter is staying in Egypt with me."
If Mohammed thought his decision to take his daughter away from her mother would be supported by his community, he was wrong. Controversial Muslim leader Sheikh Taj Aldin Alhilali told ACA he'd help Sam find her daughter.
"Once I get enough information about this case, I'm prepared to go myself to Tanta to resolve this matter," Alhilali said.
The sheik isn't the only one reaching out to Sam. Cairns mum Joanne Willoughby, married to an Egyptian herself, is collecting money to give to Sam so she can stay in Egypt.
The Hug Your Kids group, set up to help parents recover missing children, is also willing to help. The group has given its international contacts details of Sam's story to help her find Levana.
"We do have a specialised security outfit attached to our group and they are very efficient at the job they do," said Geoff Day who runs the group.
We can only hope that with our help, Sam will see Levana one day soon.
Hmmmmm typical
When is every parental child abductor going to learn?
When they take their child, they are only hurting the child and the left behind partner, but more so the damage they are infliciting invisibly is immense.
PARENTS WAKE UP - consider your child before you consider yourself - any parent thinking of taking off with their child or children then think about it carefully don't be spiteful or selfish just to get back at your ex partner, it isn't worth it in the long run.
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