(WASHINGTON, D.C., 8/10/2023) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today joined Project ANAR (Afghan Network for Advocacy and Resources) in calling on the Department of Defense (DOD) to investigate Major Joshua Mast, a U.S. Marine who has been holding an Afghan child in his custody for two years despite the wishes of her surviving family members and the overturning of his adoption by a Virginia judge.
CAIR also encouraged community members to sign Project ANAR’s action alert calling on the government to investigate Major Mast for allegedly using DOD letterhead documents without approval from the military as part or his effort to take custody of the child.
TAKE ACTION: Investigate Major Joshua Mast for Allegedly Abducting an Afghan Baby
The child was found injured after a raid conducted by U.S. and then-Afghan government forces in 2019 that killed members of her family. Mast reportedly learned of the child while she was hospitalized, and decided to adopt her as an act of Christian faith. The Masts reportedly secured an adoption after telling Virginia Circuit Court Judge Richard Moore that the girl was the daughter of terrorists who died in war, and thus a stateless orphan.
The Masts reportedly contacted the girl’s family, offering to help with her medical treatment. After the withdrawal of US forces in 2021, the Masts helped evacuate the family to the United States. Once they arrived, Mast allegedly used the adoption order, as well as documents on DOD letterhead, to take the child, who has not seen her family since.
In April, a Virginia judge voided the Masts’ adoption of the girl. However, she remains in her custody. Mast is reportedly on administrative leave.
SEE: US Marine accused of abducting Afghan child during Afghanistan withdrawal | Fox News Video
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6332576962112
In a statement, CAIR Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell:
“We join the Afghan Network for Advocacy and Resources in calling on the Department of Defense to investigate allegations that Major Joshua Mast improperly used his position to wrongly take this Afghan child away from her family. The Pentagon should also take steps to ensure that something like this can never happen. Most importantly, the federal government should do everything you can to ensure that this child is returned to her Afghan relatives as soon as humanly possible.”
Mitchell noted that CAIR previously welcomed the Virginia judge’s order voiding Major Mast’s adoption.
She remains with the Masts under a temporary custody order. They must now reportedly prove to the court that they should be granted an adoption.
SEE: CAIR Welcomes Virginia Court Decision to Void Adoption of Afghan Child, Urges Return of Child to Her Family
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La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, [email protected]; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected], CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, [email protected]