SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A university professor in Puerto Rico has been released from jail after she was arrested for refusing to hand over her toddler to her former husband on the U.S. mainland.
Maha Abdel Rahim was released Tuesday on conditions that include her surrendering her passport and appearing for a Feb. 21 extradition hearing. Rahim told reporters that she is grateful for her release and that she feels the case involving her 4-year-old son is moving forward.
Rahim was arrested Thursday at the request of authorities in California, where a judge had earlier awarded primary physical custody of the child to the ex-husband.
Thousands of Puerto Ricans have signed a petition and joined several Facebook pages to demand that Rahim be awarded custody.
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