Calgary girl at centre of kidnapping allegations could be returned from Iraq by next month

There is hope an 11-year-old Calgary girlwho is the alleged victim of an international kidnapping at the hands of her father could be returned from Iraqwithin a few weeks.

On Wednesday, a judge heard that some steps have been taken to secure the return of Zahraa Al Aazawi.

Ali Al Aazawi, 38, is chargedwithinternational kidnapping and parental abduction. He is also facing contempt proceedings in connection with his alleged breach of the family court order that dictated the girl be returned to her mother in September 2018 following a trip with her father.

If Al Aazawi isfound in contempt, he can be kept in custodyuntil the child isreturned to Canada.

As part of the contempt hearing, Al Aazawi was in court Wednesday to give an update to Justice Suzanne Bensler regardingseven steps he was ordered to take by another judge last month.

Girl with stepmom

So far, Al Aazawi has disclosed the location of his passport andhis daughter's passport. He has also told authorities his daughter is living with his wife and his sister in Baghdad.

ButErika Gordon, who represents Zahraa's mother, expressed concern toBensler that she and Global Affairs Canada still did not know the exact location of the child.

"We've given a district," saidAl Aazawi's lawyer, George Roszler, who said his client has provided the names of his wife and sister toauthorities."InBaghdad they don't have street names or numbers on homes."

Al Aazawi must still sign atravel consent document as directed by Global Affairs Canada and a plane ticket needs to be purchased.

Bensler ordered Al Aazawi to sign theconsent letter. The judge also granted an order that Al Aazawi's Canadian passport, which is being held at the Calgary Remand Centre, be surrendered to police.

'We'd like to get him out'

Roszler said Al Aazawiwaseager to get his daughter back to Canada so that he can get out of jail.

"We'd like this to happen sooner than later," said Roszler, pointing out his client has been in custody since he was arrested at the Toronto airport in April.

"We'd like to get him out."

It also remains unclear who will accompany Zahraa back to Calgary one of Al Aazawi's family members could fly back with the girl orGlobal Affairs could provide a travel companion.

Domestic abuse allegations

Al Aazawi is accused of taking Zahraa to Egypt in June 2018 and then to Iraq, where he left her with family.

He and Zanaib Mahdi had an agreement that following a three-month trip overseas, Zahraa was to be returned to her mother in September.

It has been a year since Mahdi has seen her daughter. She was at court on Wednesday in tears.

• Calgary father facing new international kidnapping charge while allegations of domestic violence surface

In 2012, Mahdisought an emergency protection order, alleging her husband physically and psychologically abused her.

Mahdi told police at the time that Al Aazawihad broken her nose and finger, burned her shoulder and had once given her a black eye.

Al Aazawi's mother lived with the couple at the time and had also allegedly attacked Mahdi. The mother-in-law, whom Mahdi said she did not trust, has since returned to Iraq.

In an affidavit filed at the Calgary courthouse, Al Aazawi denied the abuse.