Columbus, (SONNA) — A Somali family in Columbus, Ohio, has been enduring a painful ordeal that began in 2022 when mother Deqa Yusuf Haji gave birth to twins at a local hospital. One of the twins, Mahad Said Abdullahi, experienced severe health complications shortly after birth, including cardiac arrest and heavy bleeding, causing the family significant distress and anxiety.
Although Mahad’s condition was not the result of any action by his parents, allegations soon emerged against them. Authorities suggested that neglect on the part of the parents contributed to the child’s illness, prompting investigations into the circumstances surrounding the newborn’s health.
Mother Deqa Yusuf Haji, who continues to seek justice, stated that she and her husband provided the best possible care and bear no responsibility for Mahad’s illness. She added that larger institutions were involved in the case and emphasized that the matter had been brought to court six times. In December 2024, the court ultimately ruled that Mahad’s parents were not guilty of the alleged neglect.
Speaking about the case, Deqa Yusuf Haji said: “The Somali community in Columbus, Ohio, can learn lessons from what happened to us. Lack of support or a voice can lead to injustice. All Somali parents face similar challenges when their children are taken from them. To create unity, we established the Zamzam Family Organization in 2012 to support Somali parents and advocate for their rights.”
Father Said Abdullahi shared his experience: “Mahad was the first twin born via surgery. We repeatedly informed doctors that the two children were not in the same health condition, but our concerns were ignored. For two months, we cared for them at home until an ambulance arrived for the sick child. That was when the authorities began blaming us. They even restricted my movements, and we have been pursuing justice for over three years. I have three other children whom I even took to Africa during this process.”
CAIR- The Council on American-Islamic Relations has supported Deqa Yusuf Haji and Said Abdullahi in seeking justice for their child. The Somali community in Columbus did not play their role to organize campaigns to help reunite the family with their child, who has been separated from them for several years.
Executive Director of CAIR-Ohio, Khalid Turani stated: “As the largest organization serving Muslim communities in Ohio, we stand with Deqa Yusuf Haji in her pursuit of justice. We are committed to navigating the legal system to ensure the family’s rights are respected and to address the unfounded allegations that led to the child being removed. We continue to support this family until they are reunited with their child.”
Somali Family in Columbus, Ohio Seeks Justice After Child Taken by Authorities
