An Afghan couple, who is a part of the refugee group that evacuated from Afghanistan, filed a lawsuit against a U.S. Marine major after he allegedly abducted their baby shortly after they arrived in the U.S.

In a lawsuit filed last month in federal court, the Afghan couple, identified as Jane and John Doe, accused U.S. Marine Major Joshua Mast and his wife, Stephanie Mast, of engaging in a fraudulent scheme to unlawfully abduct their baby.

According to Business Insider, the couple accused the Masts of conspiracy, fraud, and false imprisonment related to what they described as the unlawful abduction of their baby. 

The lawsuit noted that the "family" or the parents and five siblings of "Baby Doe" were killed in September 2019 when a U.S. special military operation happened in rural Afghanistan.

The two-month-old baby at the time was seriously injured but survived. Baby Doe was transported to a military hospital. Mast was stationed in Afghanistan at the time. According to the lawsuit, he "fraudulently obtained a custody order" for the child in Virginia court.

However, the U.S. government did not take action to release the baby to the Masts. An unnamed Department of State official told the Associated Press that they strongly felt the baby belonged to Afghanistan, not the U.S.

Under international humanitarian law, the official said they were required to try and find the baby's next of kin. After the baby's family was found, she was released to her first cousin, identified only in the suit as John Doe, and his wife, Jane Doe. They assumed legal guardianship of the baby.

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U.S. Marine Major Forcibly Taking Afghan Baby

The Afghan family was bound for the United States for medical treatment with the help of Mast. In August 2021, the Afghan family arrived at the airport in Washington, D.C.

Mast pulled them out of the international arrivals line and led them to an inspecting officer. They were then surprised when Mast showed an Afghan passport for the child, according to the Afghan couple.

NBC New York reported that the child's passport had Mast's last name printed on the document. Federal filings showed in letters, emails, and documents submitted that Mast used his status in the U.S. Armed Forces to adopt the baby without the couple's knowledge.

Mast even reportedly appealed to high-ranking Trump administration officials to allow his adoption. He took the baby away with custody papers in hand five days after the Afghan couple arrived in the U.S.

The Afghan woman then collapsed onto the floor and pleaded with Mast to give her baby back while her husband said Mast had called him "brother" for months, so he begged to act like one. However, the Afghan couple claimed in their lawsuit that Mast shoved the man and stomped his foot.

Afghan Couple and Baby Doe

The little girl is now three and a half months, and the Afghan couple has not seen her ever since. The Afghan woman said they took the child, and their tears "never stop," U.S. News reported.

The Afghan couple evacuated to the U.S. as refugees last year. In the lawsuit, the family asked the court to protect their identity out of concern for their relatives back in Afghanistan.

The baby's identity was also kept out of the public and only listed as "Baby L" or "Baby Doe." The American couple have denied the accusations and said their adoption of the baby was legal.  

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This article is owned by Latin Post

Written by: Mary Webber

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