Monday, April 05, 2010

Orphans and Adoption in the Islamic Context

Orphan's Matchbox:
Al-Masyr Al-Youm (an Egyptian news site) today carries a fascinating article on the unique challenges facing orphans born in a Muslim nation.   While highlighting “Orphanage Day” (April 1)—created to remind Egyptians of the orphans in their midst—the article explains that none of Egypt’s estimated 50,000 orphans can expect the permanency of adoption.  The best an Egyptian orphan can hope for is a temporary family, in an arrangement that the child, the family and the broader community all understand will typically not last beyond puberty.  As the article describes, “Even when an orphan is lucky enough to be taken in by a loving family or orphanage, however, the time will come when he or she must inevitably face the world alone.”
Read the rest.  A very interesting contrast between the Christian and Islamic view of adoption.  Speaks volumes as to the differences in worldview.  

3 comments:

cgl said...

Thank you for posting this as we have been searching for information concerning this as we are planning to move overseas to work in an Islamic country and are also in the process of adopting.

jamie said...

z- i have talked to a lot of M friends about this. if you want to know more i can tell you! also have some sad news about some workers in morocco that were working at an orphanage adn had about 20ish children there. they were kicked out of country now the kids are somewhere in an institution. so heart wrenching can't even think about it!

jamie said...

cgl- we have done A TON of investigating about adoption and the M world. if you want the info we have found.. you can email zach and get our emails!
thanks