Is it possible to adopt any babies or toddlers from Middle Eastern countries such as Afghanistan or Iraq?

Question

Is it at all possible to adopt a baby or toddler from a Middle Eastern country like Iraq or Afghanistan or another Middle Eastern country? Is there any information or websites out there about this?

Answer 1

There have been some rare adoptions done by US soldiers, but they all involve orphaned children who need major surgery or other substantial medical care.  I think every case has required involvement by a US Senator to complete the process and get a visa.

Answer 2

I do not believe this is likely. My understanding is that adoption as we think of it in the USA (Canada, most of Europe) is not allowed under Islam. I am by no means an expert, but my understanding is that an orphaned child is generally taken in by a family member, but retains the original name and all legal ties to the family of origin.

It might be possible for a non-Muslim child, but even then the laws are generally based at least partially on Islam.

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

Sorry, you'll have to find another country to adopt from.  Muslims have the good sense to know adoption sucks.

Answer 4

true in many situations the family takes in the child...

but what the other poster said is very true.... since "adoption" as it is in the USA does not happen in those countries, you can't really adopt.....  the culture there is that children have a plot in life, and if they are left without parents, then someone else cannot become their parent...

this is all explained on the USA travel web site (the gov site mentioned above)

adoption is part of our culture, but no all the countries of the world...

Answer 5

Unless you plan on raising the child a Muslim, I would forget it.

Answer 6

I believe the issue with these countries is that extended family members take care of any orphans in situations of parental death. This is custom there, and to allow any other person to raise these children is "shameful" to them. This was also the situation with the Tsunami a few years ago where potential AP's were interested in adopting the orphans there. It just is not a part of their custom.

Answer 7

There have been several adoptions of special needs children in Iraq by American soldiers. Islamic men tend to shun children with birth defects. All the children that were adopted were abandoned in orphanages and had some had pretty serious medical needs. Guideposts did a wonderful story recently about and American soldier who adopted and eleven year old boy with cerebral palsy. It took him almost eighteen months, a prayer and practically an act of congress to adopt that sweet little boy.

Answer 8

Generally, No. Check out this artical from the US Dept. of State:

http://www.travel.state.gov/family/adopt...