Virginia couple sued by Afghan refugees of crazy scheme to kidnap their baby

[Anonymous]

I don’t see another thread on this and I can’t decide which forum to post so I am posting in off topic.

A couple in Palmyra, Virginia (close to Charlottesville) is being sued by an Afghan refugee couple who now live in Texas for being tricked into coming into the US last summer by the husband, Marine Joshua Mast, in a plot to have their baby “adopted” by the Masts. Essentially, this baby was orphaned when it’s entire family died in a bombing but the baby survived. Mast was in Afghanistan at this time and this was how he met the baby and immediately was trying to get the US government to grant permission for him to bring it back to the US.

Humanitarian laws, Afghan laws and customs as well as US laws/customs basically require an Afghan child who is orphaned to be placed with a relative and if that is not possible then with another Afghan, Muslim family in Afghanistan and if that’s not possible, then and only then could it possibly be placed with a US couple but only if that US couple is Muslim AND of Afghan descent. The Masts are none of these.

The Masts are graduates of Liberty University and are evangelical Christians. There is an extensive paper trail of their repeatedly requesting to be allowed to bring the baby to the US and adopt it. DoD and State department said no. Baby was eventually placed with its first cousin who is a married adult and that couple raised it for a year. Joshua Mast stayed in touch with this couple.

In the US, in Fluvanna County, Virginia the Masts sued in local court to petition to adopt the baby and become its guardian which both were granted. When chaos in Afghanistan ensued last summer with the Taliban taking control Josh Mast convinced the couple to come to the US with the baby and helped them make arrangements. They flew into Dulles where Mast and a social worker met them when the couple was informed the baby no belonged to the Masts and Joshua took it. The Afghan couple has not seen the baby since.

It is unclear if the Masts are in Palymra or NC now but the lawsuit is finally coming out in the media. It is incredible. Human trafficking, kidnapping, etc. There are several articles online re this. Even Foxnews reported it in a less than flattering tone towards the Mast. Here is just the one from WaPo.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/afghan-couple-accuse-us-marine-of-abducting-their-baby/2022/10/20/18a5fd54-5042-11ed-ada8-04e6e6bf8b19_story.html

[Anonymous]

The baby is not an "IT" - the baby is a SHE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The baby is not an "IT" - the baby is a SHE.

That’s all you took from the story? I’m assuming since the family wishes to remain anonymous posted used “it”. You’re finding problems with a pronoun when a poor baby was stolen? Stay focused.

[Anonymous]

This story makes me very sad for the child. I know the Masts think they are doing the right thing, but I hope the courts get it straightened out and return the child to the relatives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This story makes me very sad for the child. I know the Masts think they are doing the right thing, but I hope the courts get it straightened out and return the child to the relatives.

I’m sure the Masts believe they are, because they’re white, American, evangelical Christians who have claimed that the baby would be in inherent danger to be raised by Muslim Afghani relatives who would likely make her “a child soldier or sex slave”. The xenophobia, among other things, is incredible.

[Anonymous]

It is mind boggling to me that someone would think they're doing the right thing here by taking this baby away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This story makes me very sad for the child. I know the Masts think they are doing the right thing, but I hope the courts get it straightened out and return the child to the relatives.

I see it, I like it, I want it, I got it.

[Anonymous]

I hope they get prosecuted for human trafficking.

[Anonymous]

Awful

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope they get prosecuted for human trafficking.

This is not human trafficking. Using the wrong words just makes people ignore both issues.

[Anonymous]

This is revolting. I hope these people face serious consequences but doubt they will.

[Anonymous]

The Masts are being representing by McGuire Woods in DC. WOW!

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23169466-mast-motion-to-dismiss

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope they get prosecuted for human trafficking.

This is not human trafficking. Using the wrong words just makes people ignore both issues.

That is exactly what it is. You can't pay to fly someone out on a pretense and steal the baby they are the guardian of. How would you like it if I met you in NYC and did the same?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope they get prosecuted for human trafficking.

This is not human trafficking. Using the wrong words just makes people ignore both issues.

That is exactly what it is. You can't pay to fly someone out on a pretense and steal the baby they are the guardian of. How would you like it if I met you in NYC and did the same?

If you really understood the horrors of human trafficking, you wouldn't be making these comparisons. Kidnapping maybe, but not human trafficking.

[Anonymous]

Since the baby is a girl, I hope she gets to stay with the American couple. Her life will be crap otherwise.