|
30
November 2006
Madonna
Faces Adoption
Challenge
A
judge in Malawi has
allowed a coalition of
human rights groups to
proceed with a legal
challenge to pop star
Madonna's
adoption of a baby
boy.
The
alliance of 67 Malawian
groups lodged a petition
before the court last
month, saying existing
legislation did not
allow for intra-country
adoptions.
Madonna
was granted an 18-month
interim custody order
which enabled her to
take one-year-old David
Banda out of
Malawi.
The
adoption of the boy
sparked heated debate
around the
globe.
Judge
Andrew Nyirenda in the
Malawian capital,
Lilongwe, ruled that the
groups could be regarded
as "friends of the
court" and so could
pursue their application
for a full review of the
interim custody
order.
"The
applications from both
applicants are
accordingly granted and
they are both joined as
amicus curiae," said the
judgement, according to
the AFP news
agency.
The
67 groups wanted to be
party to the assessment
of the singer's fitness
as a mother.
They
had argued that the
government cut legal
corners to "fast-track"
the adoption, and said
regulations must be
followed to protect
children.
David
is currently living with
Madonna and her family
in London after she was
granted the temporary
custody
order.
Madonna
has denied using her
wealth to fast-track the
process.
Return
To News
Index
|
