In 1993, Moren Daba's ex-husband, Hisham Daba, abducted their two-year-old daughter Nadia during a custody dispute and fled the United States to Syria. Despite Moren securing full custody and an arrest warrant for Hisham, international legal and diplomatic challenges prevented the child's return for 18 years. Moren became a trained snatchback agent to recover her daughter and eventually obtained legal custody in Syria, but Hisham repeatedly evaded authorities. Nadia was reunited with Moren in 2010 after years of struggle.
Country: United States
State/Province: Florida, United States
City/Region: West Palm Beach
Incident Type: Missing Person / Presumed Homicide
Relationship Status: Divorced
Relationship Duration: Approximately 3 years (marriage)
Incident Date: Nov. 3, 1993
Relationship Origins:
Relationship Stages:
Contributing Factors:
Red Flags:
Motives:
Relationship Outcomes:
How the relationship or connection began.
Approximately 3 years (marriage)
Important relationship phases recorded for this case.
Reported red flags or early concern points.
Contributing factors and possible motives from the available sources.
1993-11-03
Recorded relationship or case outcome.
English labels are shown first. Original-language titles are preserved for source verification.
True Crime South Africa · Original language: English
Finding Nadia - Stolen Girl Official Companion Podcast Part 1
Custody Conflict
The case centers on a custody dispute following a divorce between Moren and Hisham Daba. Hisham abducted their daughter Nadia and fled internationally, exploiting legal and diplomatic gaps. Moren's struggle to regain custody involved legal battles, international jurisdictional challenges, and covert recovery attempts, illustrating the complexities of cross-border parental abduction.
Moren secured full custody and an arrest warrant for Hisham, but Syrian authorities did not enforce the warrant due to lack of extradition and recognition of custody. Hisham used fraudulent passports to evade detection. Moren became a trained snatchback agent and engaged with multiple countries' authorities. The case highlights challenges in international parental abduction enforcement.
Uncertainty about Hisham's whereabouts for extended periods; conflicting jurisdictional authority between US, Syria, and Saudi Arabia; lack of cooperation from Syrian authorities; no legal consequences for Hisham despite arrest warrants.
Moren and Hisham married and had daughter Nadia in 1990. After divorce and custody disputes, Hisham abducted Nadia in 1993, fleeing to Syria using fraudulent documents. Moren pursued legal custody and arrest warrants in the US and Syria, but faced non-cooperation. She trained as a snatchback agent and tracked Hisham to Saudi Arabia and back to Syria. Despite legal orders, Hisham evaded authorities multiple times. Nadia was reunited with Moren in 2010.
High risk due to international abduction, parental threats, and lack of effective legal enforcement across borders. The child was at risk of prolonged separation from the primary caregiver and exposure to conflicting cultural and familial influences.
International parental abduction cases are complex and difficult to resolve due to jurisdictional conflicts and lack of enforcement. Legal custody orders may not be recognized across borders. Parents may resort to extralegal measures to recover children. Persistent advocacy and expertise can eventually lead to resolution.
Hisham's threats to prevent Moren from seeing Nadia and his controlling behavior were early warning signs. The refusal to comply with custody orders and avoidance of phone contact raised alarms.
Court orders, custody arrangements, phone call avoidance, abandoned car at airport, and failure to register Nadia in Syria were key clues connecting the abduction.
Court documents granting custody, arrest warrants, phone call records, abandoned vehicle with parking ticket, and legal filings in multiple countries were strongest evidence.
Not reported.
Follow-up reports revealed Hisham's use of fraudulent passports, Syrian court custody order for Moren, and eventual reunion of Nadia with Moren in 2010.
Exact locations of Nadia during years of abduction, her personal feelings, and Hisham's current status remain unclear.