HUNDREDS of yellow balloons were yesterday released by schoolmates of a 10-year-old boy, who was allegedly kidnapped in Qatar last month.
Briton Rebecca Jones lost a bid to be reunited with her 10-year-old son last Thursday, after a Cassation Court in Doha awarded full custody to his 77-year-old grandmother.
Despite last week's blow, the campaign to bring Adam home to Bahrain was in full swing yesterday.
Campaigners at the St Christopher's Junior School, in Saar, also wore T-shirts, sporting the slogan 'Bring Adam Back Home', while yellow ribbons were tied around hands as a sign of support. The yellow ribbon is an international symbol of those who are waiting for the return of loved ones.
Mrs Jones said it was unlikely that she would be able to join the protests or other events being held as part of the campaign in Bahrain. "I fear that I will be refused entry into Qatar if I leave," she told the GDN from Doha.
"That would be my worst nightmare and although it is putting severe financial strain on my family, leaving would seem like giving up the fight - which I will never do."
Mrs Jones said she had already seen pictures of yesterday's campaign, which was attended by her second husband of five years, Barrie, and their four-year-old daughter Alex. She said she was truly touched by the continued support of the Bahraini community.
"It is wonderful, but heartbreaking at the same time, it is the sort of thing that Adam loves.
"It has been incredible that the whole community has got behind us and just knowing that we're not on our own has made the fight that little bit easier. It gives us some hope to see people organising events like this and it gives me the strength to keep on fighting for my little boy."
Camera crews from British news agency ITN were present at yesterday's event. Mrs Jones said international media coverage would make the case too difficult for Qatari authorities to ignore.
"Being in Qatar has taken its toll on our family, I haven't seen Alex in over six weeks and although she's just a baby she's getting distressed," she said.
"She keeps on asking when I'm coming home with Adam and she's finding it very difficult to understand why we're gone.
"It's heart-wrenching, but we've got to keep on fighting. I dream of the day when I can get on a plane from Qatar and bring my son home."
Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society (BHRWS) secretary-general Faisal Fulad, who has intervened in the case, said events like the one held at the school acted as a great sign of unity and would give the Jones family the drive to keep on fighting against the injustice.
"Seeing children, parents and school teachers standing against something which is wrong is a special and amazing thing," he said.
"It sends out a message to send Adam home, which the BHRWS fully supports."
Mr Fulad said the BHRWS would be using whatever means at its disposal, including approaching international lawyers and contacting human rights groups locally and internationally.
Meanwhile, a St Christopher's School spokeswoman told the GDN that although it had allowed the campaigners to use its premises, it had no official stance on what had occurred and had no further comment.
A petition is also about to be sent to Qatari Amir Shaikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Premier and Foreign Minister Shaikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr Al Thani and British Premier Gordon Brown.
Meanwhile, a Facebook group demanding that Adam be returned to his family has grown to nearly 4,000 members, just a fortnight after it was created.
The Jones family lawyer earlier submitted several documents supporting their case, including some relating to Adam's schooling in Bahrain.
danm@gdn.com.bh
