Washington Court Refuses to Enforce Saudi Child Custody Decree

In January 2019 , a Saudi Arabia judge granted the divorce and custody of ZA to Bethany AlHaidari.

The decision was written by Chief Judge George Fearing and joined by Judges Robert Lawrence-Berrey and Rebecca Pennell .

Both sides tendered inflammatory accusations about the other in an attempt to discredit the other's ability to parent.

In June 2019 , Saudi Arabia Judge Abdul-Ellah ibn Mohammed Al-Tuwaijiri ruled that Bethany AlHaidari was better than the parents.

The court derided Bethany as a foreigner, who embraced western cultural traditions.

The Saudi government issued an arrest warrant for Bethany and a ten-year travel ban.