July 24, 1994 
His Majesty Hussein I
King of Hashemite
Kingdom of Jordan
Amman, Jordan

Your Majesty: I am the older sister of Nihal Abequa and I have been appointed by the courts in the United States as the Legal Guardian of her children,  Lisa and Sami Abequa.

Lisa and Sami were abducted from their home in Parsippany, New Jersey three weeks ago by their father, Muhammed Abequa, after he murdered their mother.  He fled to Jordan with the children, where they remain today.  It is my understanding that Mr. Abequa is now in the custody of Jordanian authorities and has confessed to the murder of my sister.

I wish to express my deep gratitude and thank you from my heart for your expeditious handling of the arrest of Mr. Abequa and your cooperation with the United States Government.

While you are a man of distinction and authority, you are also a human being.  It is on this level that I appeal to you.  My greatest concern is for the return of my niece and nephew to their home in the United States of America.  Before being abducted by their father these children had never left the United States.  They were born and raised in

New Jersey where the only family they really know and all of their friends live.  These are American children who have been raised in a warm and loving home by their mother. 

Nihal Abequa was a mother who dedicated her life to her children.  She was an ideal mother.  She had instilled in these children not only American values but also the teachings of the Koran.  Our family has always maintained its Islamic faith and traditions.

The courts in the United States appointed me as Legal Guardian of Lisa and Sami because I am the closest relative to them and can raise them the way their mother would have wanted them to be raised.  I was the person who these children thought of as their second mother, as Nihal was a second mother to my daughter.  We are a very close-knit family who have shared all of life's joys and sorrows together.

These children need to be back with the people whom they love and trust in the difficult times ahead.  They will be faced with the knowledge that their father brutally murdered their mother. I have learned that General Yahya Abequa, in Jordan, who is the brother of the man who murdered my sister, has stated that he intends to keep the children. His message, which was sent to me indirectly, was … the General feels that his position is powerful enough to make this happen.

These children had no contact with this man before his brother abducted them.  He never even sent them a birthday card or acknowledged their existence.  He did not even find it in his heart to express his condolences to me over the loss of my sister, the children's mother.  How can he be expected to properly instill in these children the loving memory of their mother.  He did not even know Nihal Abequa. I beg of you, Your Majesty, to use your power to see that justice is done by returning these children to me.

I know that your mission here in the United States is one of peace.  Let this be the first step.

Thank you very much for allowing me the opportunity to address you concerning this pressing issue.

  Most respectfully,

Nesime Dokur