LM (A Child: Return Order to the UAE; Humanitarian Protection), Re

Facts

LM, aged 3, is the daughter of two Sudanese parents who were brought up and worked in the UAE, where they married in 2021. LM was born in the USA in Summer 2022 and holds US citizenship; the family returned to the UAE shortly afterwards. The parents' relationship broke down and, around LM's first birthday, LM began living with the father (F). The mother (M) obtained a custody order in her favour from a UAE Family Court on 27 April 2024, which F did not comply with, nor with subsequent enforcement orders. On 14 November 2024 F removed LM from the UAE without telling M, taking her to Malaysia and then to the UK on 8 January 2025. He did not disclose their whereabouts. F applied for asylum for himself and LM; the Secretary of State for the Home Department refused refugee status on 11 June 2025 but granted humanitarian protection until 10 June 2030. M applied on 29 October 2025 for LM's return to the UAE, supported by the Children's Guardian. Each parent sought findings against the other, F alleging that LM faced a risk of female genital mutilation in the UAE and contending that a return order would offend the prohibition on refoulement and Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.