Couple Jailed in Qatar

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nico 12 years ago

So what has this got to do with us? Why not go and publish this in an American or Qatari newspaper or website?

So what has this got to do with us? Why not go and publish this in an American or Qatari newspaper or website?
Dimples 12 years ago

Very confusing article.

Very confusing article.
Nyansasem 12 years ago

In short, the couple from California have adopted 3 African kids. The girl was adopted from Ghana. They moved to Qatar two years ago because the husband is an Engineer and is working on a project for the 2022 World cup. It wa ...
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In short, the couple from California have adopted 3 African kids. The girl was adopted from Ghana. They moved to Qatar two years ago because the husband is an Engineer and is working on a project for the 2022 World cup. It was there that the death occurred. Going through some of the pictures on the net, they seem to be lovely family.

I can understand the concerns of Qatar authorities since not many Asians or Arab would adopt black children, but I believe this couple are real and should be commended for doing so, instead of being jailed. They need to be freed. If they had adopted them to sell their body parts, Qatar is not the place they would go and settle to do so.

www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/05/matt-huang-grace-huang-_n_3710024.html

LOS ANGELES — A married couple from Los Angeles have been jailed in the Middle East on a charge of murder with intent and are being accused of starving their 8-year-old daughter to death, according to a coalition of groups that are working on the case from the U.S. and trying to draw publicity to what they say are unjust arrests.

Matthew and Grace Huang were arrested in Doha, Qatar, shortly after their daughter, Gloria, died Jan. 15, said Alex Simpson, associate director of the nonprofit California Innocence Project. The Huangs adopted the child from Ghana at age 4.

The couple's two other children, also adopted from Africa, have been banned from leaving the country and are being cared for by their grandmother, who is living with them there.

The Qatar Embassy did not return a call or email seeking comment Monday.

The Huangs moved to Qatar in 2012 so Matthew Huang could work as an engineer on two major infrastructure projects associated with improvements for the 2022 World Cup, according to a narrative of the case posted on the family'swebsite.

www.freemattandgrace.com

Their daughter, who was severely malnourished in early childhood, would periodically refuse food for several days and then binge eat or get food from bizarre sources, such as garbage cans or from strangers – a behavior her parents traced to her impoverished upbringing and were trying to address. She would also try to leave the house at night in search of food and pick through the medicine cabinet on late-night binges, according to a report prepared in the U.S. by Janice Ophoven, a pediatric forensic psychologist who reviewed the case for the family.

The behavior is not uncommon in adopted children who have suffered from severe malnutrition in their past, the report says.

Gloria, who was slight for her age, also had been treated for an intestinal parasite, and recent blood tests had showed severely low levels of a certain type of white blood cell that could have been a sign of an underlying bone marrow condition, as well as a vitamin D deficiency.

When Gloria died, she was in an anorexic episode and had not eaten in as many as four days, Ophoven wrote in her report.

A Qatari doctor who conducted Gloria's autopsy found that the child's hips, ribs and spine protruded and concluded the cause of death was dehydration and wasting disease.

Supporters in the U.S. say those diagnoses aren't possible and don't take into account the child's long history of eating disorders and malnourishment that caused lifelong health concerns, as well as recent blood work.

In addition, the unconventional family – an American couple of Asian descent with three black children – may have also complicated the situation because Qatar officials were unfamiliar with U.S. international adoptions, said Simpson, whose organization is one of several assisting the family.

An investigative report by Qatari police raised questions about why the Huangs would adopt children who did not share their "hereditary traits" and raised concerns that the children were part of a human trafficking operation or were "bought" for organ harvesting, according to the family's website.

"That's a fairly uncommon thing in any culture and that may have contributed to it and to the concern that something untoward and nefarious was going on," Simpson said.

The California Innocence Project is housed at the San Diego-based California Western School of Law and works to free wrongfully convicted inmates. The group, founded in 1999, is one of 48 loosely affiliated Innocence Projects nationwide in the Innocence Network.

Eric Volz, managing director for the David House Agency, which is coordinating legal and publicity efforts for the family, declined to comment because of the sensitive nature of the case.

___
911 12 years ago

AND PEOPLE ARE CREATING STORIES AND MAKING EXCUSES JUST TO SET SOMEONE FREE. COULD IT POSSIBLY BE LIKE THERE IS TIME FOR EVERYTHING IN THAT HOUSE, LIKE IF YOU DONT EAT NOW THATS IT UNTIL NEXT EATING TIME? WHY WOULD THIS GIRL ...
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AND PEOPLE ARE CREATING STORIES AND MAKING EXCUSES JUST TO SET SOMEONE FREE. COULD IT POSSIBLY BE LIKE THERE IS TIME FOR EVERYTHING IN THAT HOUSE, LIKE IF YOU DONT EAT NOW THATS IT UNTIL NEXT EATING TIME? WHY WOULD THIS GIRL GO OUT LOOKING FOR FOOD? POOR GIRL
Dallas 12 years ago

Whatever the cause of death is, whether for ' organ harvesting' or 'eating disorder' the couple still have some questions to answer. Else, why was the little girl not given medical attention after not eating for 4 days!

Whatever the cause of death is, whether for ' organ harvesting' or 'eating disorder' the couple still have some questions to answer. Else, why was the little girl not given medical attention after not eating for 4 days!
Nyansasem 12 years ago

Of course, there are more questions than answers, and no one is accusing the authorities to find out the cause of death. I also think it is silly to use this unfortunate accident to say nasty things about how most kids are br ...
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Of course, there are more questions than answers, and no one is accusing the authorities to find out the cause of death. I also think it is silly to use this unfortunate accident to say nasty things about how most kids are brought up or fed in Africa. The supporters of the couple are not doing well.

However, in order to charge them with murder, certain facts have to be taken into consideration:

1- How long have they adopted these kids?

2- What was their relationship with the kids while they were in California before moving to Qatar?

3- The health of the other 2 adopted children. Are they healthy or suffering from the same problem?

4-Was this kid giving medical attention when she was in the States? And what was the medical diagnose?

5 -If it was Eating disorder, then it is psychological(mental) problem and not "medical" per se. Note; Pathologist report could be malnutrition, while medical report or diagnose could be "Eating Disoder"

6-- Eating Disorder- we then need to find out what type. Bulimia, Anorexia, Binge or PICA. From what I have read so far, if she was diagnosed with Eating Disorder, it could be PICA; severest form.

My point here is, they can't just charge them with murder just because:

1- The kids are of different race. That is stupid. Although, Asians are the least to adopt black kids, but I have seen Asian Christians with black adopted kids.

2-That you suspect they adopted them for their organs. That is nonsense too.. If anything, they would not keep them for more than 4 yrs with them and definitely not sent them to Qatar, an Arab country to do that. They would have gone to India

3- And certainly, not only about malnutrition. Like I said, Eating disorder is a psychological (mental) problem and there are times, medication don't help. In case of severest form of PICA, the only thing you could do is being SUPPORTIVE, that is monitoring and making sure they don't pick up stuff from anywhere to eat. Yes, I have seen one before who could pick up a set of keys and swallow it.

4- And the fact that pathologist report says that, the girl died of malnutrition, does not mean, the parents intentionally refused to give her food. May be negligence, but even then...
CITIZEN ONE 12 years ago

As irrelevant as the point was made, I cannot but have to mention that the Huang's are no more physically attractive as observed in the adopted kids.

Nonetheless, I don't even understand much of this ranting. Affluent Ghan ...
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As irrelevant as the point was made, I cannot but have to mention that the Huang's are no more physically attractive as observed in the adopted kids.

Nonetheless, I don't even understand much of this ranting. Affluent Ghanaian families are far more atrocious and wicked towards their adopted children, than perhaps most foreign adopters are. Most assuredly, you are likely to be the house servant if adopted, even at a tender age of 5 years and up, you will be trained to perform house chores from 6:00 am till your wards fall asleep. Besides having to perform chores, you will be made to perform unsafe duties not befitting a child. I have witnessed these atrocious habits from Ghanaian families. Our culture is so dysfunctional and filled with hypocrites (almost all of us). A Ghanaian living a normal and civilized life in America, will visit Ghana and suddenly sit and expect to be served like an Egyptian King - water basin to wash your hands so you can eat with your fingers, your food is brought to your little stool at lightening speed and removed soon as your finger escapes the soup bowl. Meanwhile, when you escape to back to the US, you become tamed and civilized again. It is unimaginable to think that any such persons have any reason to comment on certain foreign attitudes towards black people in general. For your information, I refuse servitude whenever I am in Ghana. I do as much as I can for myself as I have practiced abroad, when necessary , I will plead politely for assistance from these house helps.

We deserve everything that ahs befallen us as a race, today an beyond, cos, I see little hope. But as an individual, I am the least perturbed, I see myself as part of the human race and not the black race. You are all a liability to my existence as a Black African (Ghanaian)!!!
Helen 12 years ago

Citizen One - Yes indeed, all races are created equal. Slavery is long ago matter and racism should be a past for all. Western countries pushed Equal Right for years, please relax.

Now, the Huangs DID NOT personally in ...
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Citizen One - Yes indeed, all races are created equal. Slavery is long ago matter and racism should be a past for all. Western countries pushed Equal Right for years, please relax.

Now, the Huangs DID NOT personally indicated those adopted kids are bad looking kids. I believe to the Huangs, they are beautiful. That's why they adopted them. The comment you made was not justified, "..Huangs are no more attractive as observed..." It was rather a personal attack. If anything at all, this comment was probably made by Qatar officials.

Like you said, if little Gloria was adopted by a native Ghanian family, she probably worked as a slave to death. In this sense, Gloria was better off with the Huangs who truly wanted the best and intentionally of bringing her back home to America where she could receive a decent education after the husband finished the engineer job assignment contracted from Qatar.

I am devastated to hear such sad news of what happened to the decent and kind couple with such loving hearts ended up in jail. I pray that they will be released soon.
Helen 12 years ago

I really hope that Qatar government will look closely into this matter and give fair justice to the Huangs.

It was a shocking news when I hear what happened to Mrs. Grace Huang, a loving teacher back in California. We kno ...
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I really hope that Qatar government will look closely into this matter and give fair justice to the Huangs.

It was a shocking news when I hear what happened to Mrs. Grace Huang, a loving teacher back in California. We know her from the elementary school that she teaches. A loving couple who simply tried to do GOOD DEED and make a different in this world by adopting and helping the unfortunate children who were not loved by their own biological parents. The Huangs are INNOCENT!! They should be praised and not punished!! Please release them right away.
SGT ANANI FIADZOE 12 years ago

Nico, they say silence is golden. So whenever you are not aware of anything don't comment on the issue involved. What you wrote shows how ignorant (not intended as an insult) and naive you are.

For your information, Americ ...
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Nico, they say silence is golden. So whenever you are not aware of anything don't comment on the issue involved. What you wrote shows how ignorant (not intended as an insult) and naive you are.

For your information, Americans know all about adoptions and that most adoptions are for sinister intentions and not because they love the children. Thus they have instituted the laws and systems to ensure adoption is safe.

Nico, do you know what is happening in Ghana? Orphanages are springing up everywhere which serve as adoption centres. The whites flock there to 'adopt' children unsupervised. In fact, most of them need the children for their organ farms or other sinister reasons.

What is worse for us in Ghana is that our people are happy to hear that their child is going abroad. So adoption is seen as God's answer to their prayers. And the incompetent Social Welfare officer take a little bribe and look away. This article is therefore a most welcome EYE OPENER to draw our attention to the fact that 'not all that glitters is gold'.

It is therefore sad to hear comments like those of Nico's. Nico, please think before you talk/write and remember that 'Silence is Golden'.

princewilly@ymail.com 12 years ago

IF YOUR GOOD PARENTS DID NOT ADOPT YOU AND YOU WERE ADOPTED BY ITALIAN,WE WILL CALL YOU FIADJOETELLI.
BY CHINESE IT WILL BE FIADZOE-TU-CAN-CHEW.

IF YOUR GOOD PARENTS DID NOT ADOPT YOU AND YOU WERE ADOPTED BY ITALIAN,WE WILL CALL YOU FIADJOETELLI.
BY CHINESE IT WILL BE FIADZOE-TU-CAN-CHEW.
Helen 12 years ago

SGT Anani: Although there maybe some relevant truth to what you said about the organ farms, but perhaps from other countries. This couple is from America. If those children were bought sole for the purpose of their organs, ...
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SGT Anani: Although there maybe some relevant truth to what you said about the organ farms, but perhaps from other countries. This couple is from America. If those children were bought sole for the purpose of their organs, why on earth did they have all kind of loving family pictures together?? What you just said in your comment may give people even more false illusion of this (as I 100% believed) "INNOCENT COUPLE" who merely trying to build/complete their family with some not-as-fortunate children who were yet forgotten and/or abandoned !! It's hardly of any sinister intentions as you falsely accused them of.

Perhaps, you should try your "Silence is Golden" rule.
Torgbigah 12 years ago

unclean and satanic race

unclean and satanic race
KWAME A. 12 years ago

God help us if you will take time to write this?

God help us if you will take time to write this?
truth 12 years ago

what the hell do u mean , whats it got to do with u ? are the huangs not human? what if u were falsely acused... what if there was foul play ?? what if u were the kid ?? ITS ABOUT RAISING AWRENESS U BASTARD!! selfish bastard

what the hell do u mean , whats it got to do with u ? are the huangs not human? what if u were falsely acused... what if there was foul play ?? what if u were the kid ?? ITS ABOUT RAISING AWRENESS U BASTARD!! selfish bastard
dr murphy 12 years ago

reading stories like this as a black American how do I absorb it,in America most Africans look down at black americans,one Nigerian told me a black American that the American white customs agents tel them to stay away from bl ...
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reading stories like this as a black American how do I absorb it,in America most Africans look down at black americans,one Nigerian told me a black American that the American white customs agents tel them to stay away from black americans a true story told to me in boston Massachusetts.
Field Marshall Mosquito 12 years ago

Black Africans cannot look down on African-Americans.

Black Africans cannot look down on African-Americans.
Bashiru Zongo 12 years ago

>>> *(NICO)* IS SUB-ANIMAL !!!

The SUB-ANIMAL BEAST SAY'S THIS STORY IS IRRELEVANT ?

>>> *(NICO)* IS SUB-ANIMAL !!!

The SUB-ANIMAL BEAST SAY'S THIS STORY IS IRRELEVANT ?
princewilly@ymail.com 12 years ago

Deep within a forest, a little turtle began to climb a tree. After hours of effort he reached the top, jumped into the air waving his front legs and crashed to the ground.

After recovering, he slowly climbed the tree again ...
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Deep within a forest, a little turtle began to climb a tree. After hours of effort he reached the top, jumped into the air waving his front legs and crashed to the ground.

After recovering, he slowly climbed the tree again, jumped, and fell to the ground. The turtle tried again and again while a couple of birds sitting on a branch watched his sad efforts.

Finally, the female bird turned to her mate. "Dear," she chirped, "I think it's time to tell him he's adopted.
BRAVEBOY 12 years ago

Prince it is sad some African parents will never understand your proverb. I thought we were once taught to understand such wisdom. Have I great weekend.

Prince it is sad some African parents will never understand your proverb. I thought we were once taught to understand such wisdom. Have I great weekend.

BRAVEBOY 12 years ago

Prince you never answered my question yesterday. What that word 'gigolo' and what language is it or were you using your poetic license?

Prince you never answered my question yesterday. What that word 'gigolo' and what language is it or were you using your poetic license?
Concerned 12 years ago

..

..
princewilly@ymail.com 12 years ago

GIGOLO IS A MALE PROSTITUTE.
WHEN MY FRIEND GOT HIS B.S DEGREE,
THEY SAID ITS BULL SHIT.
WHEN HE GOT HIS MS DEGREE- MORE SHIT.
WHEN HE GOT HIS PHD-PUSH HARDER AND DEEPER FOR MORE BULL SHIT.
HE BECAME A GIGOLO IN LAS VEGA ...
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GIGOLO IS A MALE PROSTITUTE.
WHEN MY FRIEND GOT HIS B.S DEGREE,
THEY SAID ITS BULL SHIT.
WHEN HE GOT HIS MS DEGREE- MORE SHIT.
WHEN HE GOT HIS PHD-PUSH HARDER AND DEEPER FOR MORE BULL SHIT.
HE BECAME A GIGOLO IN LAS VEGAS NEVADA,
THE WOMEN CALL HIS PHD-PUSSHER OF THE HARD DICK.
BRAVEBOY 12 years ago

Thanks a million for the definition. Very educative.

Thanks a million for the definition. Very educative.
obeng 12 years ago

The bottom-line is , we are still selling our children. When these children become 'Ballotelis'in life, then we want to lay claim on them again. When will we learn?

Why cant the parents raise them? We have all been through ...
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The bottom-line is , we are still selling our children. When these children become 'Ballotelis'in life, then we want to lay claim on them again. When will we learn?

Why cant the parents raise them? We have all been through hardship.
princewilly@ymail.com 12 years ago

GHANA IS A RICH NATION AND I AM WONDERING WHY OUR RICH FOLKS DONT ADOPT OUR CHILDREN.
PERHAPS IF YOUR GOOD PARENTS DID NOT ADOPT YOU,THEY WILL CALL YOU OBENGTELLI IN ITALIAN OR OBENG-TU-CAANCHEW IN CHINESE.

GHANA IS A RICH NATION AND I AM WONDERING WHY OUR RICH FOLKS DONT ADOPT OUR CHILDREN.
PERHAPS IF YOUR GOOD PARENTS DID NOT ADOPT YOU,THEY WILL CALL YOU OBENGTELLI IN ITALIAN OR OBENG-TU-CAANCHEW IN CHINESE.
contra 12 years ago

African countries should be very cautious who they let adopt african children
recently adopting young Africans has been like getting a new hand bag by white celebrities and when white celebrities do things other people follo ...
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African countries should be very cautious who they let adopt african children
recently adopting young Africans has been like getting a new hand bag by white celebrities and when white celebrities do things other people follow for no good reason.
There are legitimate people out there who want to adopt but we in Africa should be very careful
truth 12 years ago

IF THEY ARE INNOCENT BLESS THEM !!! FOR ADOPTING BABIES THAT ARE NOT GOOD LOOKING !!

IF THEY ARE INNOCENT BLESS THEM !!! FOR ADOPTING BABIES THAT ARE NOT GOOD LOOKING !!
kosi 12 years ago

This article may be telling a harrowing
story but it so unclear. What exactly happened to little Grace and where are the other children.

This article may be telling a harrowing
story but it so unclear. What exactly happened to little Grace and where are the other children.
truth 12 years ago

THEY MIGHT BE INNOCENT , AND THEY MIGHT BE VICTIMS AS WELL...ONLY TIME WILL BRING OUT THE TRUTH !!

THEY MIGHT BE INNOCENT , AND THEY MIGHT BE VICTIMS AS WELL...ONLY TIME WILL BRING OUT THE TRUTH !!

Helen 12 years ago

It was a shocking news when I hear what happened to Mrs. Grace Huang, a loving teacher back in California. We know her from the elementary school that she teaches. A loving couple who simply tried to do GOOD DEED and make a ...
read full comment

It was a shocking news when I hear what happened to Mrs. Grace Huang, a loving teacher back in California. We know her from the elementary school that she teaches. A loving couple who simply tried to do GOOD DEED and make a different in this world by adopting and helping the unfortunate children who were not loved by their own biological parents. The Huangs are INNOCENT!! They should be praised and not punished!! Please release them right away.
Helen 12 years ago

It was a shocking news when I hear what happened to Mrs. Grace Huang, a loving teacher back in California. We know her from the elementary school that she teaches. A loving couple who simply tried to do GOOD DEED and make a d ...
read full comment

It was a shocking news when I hear what happened to Mrs. Grace Huang, a loving teacher back in California. We know her from the elementary school that she teaches. A loving couple who simply tried to do GOOD DEED and make a different in this world by adopting and helping the unfortunate children who were not loved by their own biological parents. The Huangs are INNOCENT!! They should be praised and not punished!! Please release them right away.
Paul Amuna 12 years ago

What on earth is this "feeding problem associated with countries with poor food security"? Are they suggesting that the child, Gloria was malnourished, and that her death was the result of malnutrition? If so, then why not si ...
read full comment

What on earth is this "feeding problem associated with countries with poor food security"? Are they suggesting that the child, Gloria was malnourished, and that her death was the result of malnutrition? If so, then why not simply say so?

I find it hard to believe that a couple would adopt a malnourished child who has not been fully treated and recovered from the primary problem.

Although there are complex metabolic adaptations associated with malnutrition, I find it rather curious that sudden death as described here could be attributed to such an issue, but these are just my observations, having not seen the autopsy report myself.

It is worth noting that the Huangs (according to the story) have a number of adoptive children whom they tend to go for in poor developing countries, and the others have been taken into care by the Qatari authorities.

We have to be careful how we report these sensitive issues. By the way, the Huangs are awaiting trial but were refused bail as I understand it. Let's not jump to conclusions about something we are not fully conversant with.
Policeman 12 years ago

Mr writer your write up is inconclusive so try as much as possible to complete it. It is however a very refreshing piece so please try completing it, ok.

Mr writer your write up is inconclusive so try as much as possible to complete it. It is however a very refreshing piece so please try completing it, ok.
SUMBRUNGU 12 years ago

If they're found innocent by the law, they'll be freed. It doesn't lie with arrogant supremacists to think for our countries.

If they're found innocent by the law, they'll be freed. It doesn't lie with arrogant supremacists to think for our countries.
Adongo 12 years ago

Foolish author!

Foolish author!
princewilly@ymail.com 12 years ago

A family of Ghanaian mice was surprised by a big Chinese cat. Mother mouse opened her mouth and shouted, “Woof woof-Tu-Can-Woof!” The Chinese cat got scared and ran away.

“What was that, Mum?” asked the youngest Gh ...
read full comment

A family of Ghanaian mice was surprised by a big Chinese cat. Mother mouse opened her mouth and shouted, “Woof woof-Tu-Can-Woof!” The Chinese cat got scared and ran away.

“What was that, Mum?” asked the youngest Ghanaian mouse.

“Well dear, I’ve told you how important it is to learn a second language in chinese by saying TU-CAN-FUCK.”

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Couple Jailed in Qatar

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