Elsa appeal continues following Tamer Salama High Court decision

Our client Naomi Button – whose six year old daughter Elsa was abducted by her father in Egypt on December 27, 2011 – says she respects this week’s High Court decision to keep him in custody for repeatedly refusing to disclose Elsa’s whereabouts.

On Tuesday July 2 Mr Justice Roderic Wood jailed Naomi’s estranged husband Tamer Salama for a further six months for contempt of court.

The 39 year old mother says she continues to be extremely grateful for the widespread messages of comfort and backing from the public since launching the “Bring Elsa Home’’ campaign in advance of Elsa’s sixth birthday on 2 February this year. The campaign is backed by high-profile politicians and authorities including Alistair Burt, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Roberta Angelilli, the European Parliament’s child mediator who has taken Elsa’s case to the European Commission, MEP Edward McMillan-Scott, Naomi’s own MP Rachel Reeves and West Yorkshire Police.

We would like to also thank national and regional media for their continued support and coverage of Naomi’s story including BBC Leeds, Radio Aire, Yorkshire Evening Post, The Times, The Independent, The Daily Mail, Sheffield Star, Daily Echo.

Kate Banerjee, head of Jones Myers children’s department, who is representing Naomi, said: “Naomi has undergone 18 long and traumatic months since Elsa was snatched from her care in Egypt.

“Facing Tamer in court and hearing him continue to refuse to reveal Elsa’s whereabouts has understandably been harrowing for Naomi. We continue to appeal to anyone who knows anything about where Elsa may be to pick up the phone and help us return this little girl to her mother.”

Ms Banerjee, who is also a member of the International Child Abduction and Contact Unit, urges anyone with information about Elsa who has dark, wavy hair and blue eyes and usually wears glasses, to call the following telephone numbers.

To make calls inside the UK dial 101 and ask to speak to Leeds District Safeguarding Unit at West Yorkshire Police. If dialling from outside the UK, please call 00 44 192 437 5222.

If you are concerned that your child may be at risk of abduction then contact the police immediately and seek legal advice.