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| American Couple in Qatar, Cleared in Child’s Death, Petition to Lift Travel Ban | American Couple in Qatar, Cleared in Child’s Death, Petition to Lift Travel Ban |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The American couple in Qatar acquitted on Sunday in the death of their adopted African daughter after a nearly two-year legal ordeal petitioned the attorney general’s office on Monday to rescind a travel ban, a bureaucratic obstacle that had prevented them from flying home immediately after they won their case. | The American couple in Qatar acquitted on Sunday in the death of their adopted African daughter after a nearly two-year legal ordeal petitioned the attorney general’s office on Monday to rescind a travel ban, a bureaucratic obstacle that had prevented them from flying home immediately after they won their case. |
| Lawyers for the couple, Matthew and Grace Huang of Los Angeles, submitted an application at midday to lift the ban, a day after they were denied permission to board a flight out of the country despite a court ruling that they were free to go. | Lawyers for the couple, Matthew and Grace Huang of Los Angeles, submitted an application at midday to lift the ban, a day after they were denied permission to board a flight out of the country despite a court ruling that they were free to go. |
| The unforeseen impediment caused a scene on Sunday at the international airport in Doha, the capital. The Huangs, who had been personally escorted toward the departure area by the American ambassador, Dana Shell Smith, were stopped at the immigration desk and told they could not leave. | The unforeseen impediment caused a scene on Sunday at the international airport in Doha, the capital. The Huangs, who had been personally escorted toward the departure area by the American ambassador, Dana Shell Smith, were stopped at the immigration desk and told they could not leave. |
| Even Secretary of State John Kerry got involved, telephoning his Qatari counterpart. Mr. Kerry issued a statement on Sunday night commending the acquittal and exhorting the judicial authorities in Doha to expedite the Huangs’ wish to return home so they could reunite with their other two children. | Even Secretary of State John Kerry got involved, telephoning his Qatari counterpart. Mr. Kerry issued a statement on Sunday night commending the acquittal and exhorting the judicial authorities in Doha to expedite the Huangs’ wish to return home so they could reunite with their other two children. |
| The delay was interpreted by advocates for the couple as a possible new effort by prosecutors to cause further legal problems for the Huangs — or at least cause them new angst. Prosecutors do not often lose such high profile cases on appeal in Qatar, the tiny affluent Gulf emirate. | The delay was interpreted by advocates for the couple as a possible new effort by prosecutors to cause further legal problems for the Huangs — or at least cause them new angst. Prosecutors do not often lose such high profile cases on appeal in Qatar, the tiny affluent Gulf emirate. |
| “Given the appellate court’s ruling, it’s starting to feel a little like a private vendetta,” said Eric Volz, an adviser to the Huangs, who is the managing director of the David House Agency, a Los Angeles organization that assists Americans caught in legal entanglements in other countries. | “Given the appellate court’s ruling, it’s starting to feel a little like a private vendetta,” said Eric Volz, an adviser to the Huangs, who is the managing director of the David House Agency, a Los Angeles organization that assists Americans caught in legal entanglements in other countries. |
| Reached by telephone in Doha, Mr. Volz said that removing the obstacle was as simple as “someone pushing a keyboard button.” | Reached by telephone in Doha, Mr. Volz said that removing the obstacle was as simple as “someone pushing a keyboard button.” |
| Others said, however, that rescinding the travel ban required a separate process that might take a few days in the best of circumstances for Qatar, known for cumbersome bureaucratic complications concerning foreigners. | Others said, however, that rescinding the travel ban required a separate process that might take a few days in the best of circumstances for Qatar, known for cumbersome bureaucratic complications concerning foreigners. |
| The appellate judge dismissed the case, vindicating the couple’s assertions of innocence in the January 2013 death of their adopted 8-year-old daughter from Ghana, Gloria, who had an eating disorder. | The appellate judge dismissed the case, vindicating the couple’s assertions of innocence in the January 2013 death of their adopted 8-year-old daughter from Ghana, Gloria, who had an eating disorder. |
| Prosecutors had accused the Huangs of killing Gloria by withholding food, an assertion that was contradicted during the trial. Their arguments were riddled with racial innuendo suggesting the parents, of Asian descent, were child traffickers who would not have adopted a black African child as their own. | Prosecutors had accused the Huangs of killing Gloria by withholding food, an assertion that was contradicted during the trial. Their arguments were riddled with racial innuendo suggesting the parents, of Asian descent, were child traffickers who would not have adopted a black African child as their own. |
| The Huangs were convicted in March on the lesser charge of child endangerment, which they appealed. The case became a public relations problem for the Qatari authorities as well as an irritant in relations with the United States. | The Huangs were convicted in March on the lesser charge of child endangerment, which they appealed. The case became a public relations problem for the Qatari authorities as well as an irritant in relations with the United States. |
| Mr. Volz, who accompanied the Huangs to the airport in Doha on Sunday, said they were prepared at a moment’s notice to return there for the next flight out once they were assured the travel ban had been lifted. “Our bags are packed,” he said. | Mr. Volz, who accompanied the Huangs to the airport in Doha on Sunday, said they were prepared at a moment’s notice to return there for the next flight out once they were assured the travel ban had been lifted. “Our bags are packed,” he said. |
| In a statement issued later, Mr. Volz urged the Obama administration to exert more pressure and “call the emir of Qatar to free these two innocent American citizens.” | In a statement issued later, Mr. Volz urged the Obama administration to exert more pressure and “call the emir of Qatar to free these two innocent American citizens.” |
| The Huangs moved to Qatar in July 2012 because Mr. Huang, an engineer, had been assigned there by his employer at the time, MWH Global, a leading public-works engineering company based in Broomfield, Colo., which was working on a project in Doha. | |
| The Huangs have accused MWH of abandoning them in the months following their arrest in connection with Gloria’s death in January 2013. MWH has disputed the accusation. Mr. Huang is no longer with the company. | |
| Breaking its silence for the first time since the Huangs were acquitted, the company issued a terse news release on Monday saying it was pleased and that “our thoughts are with Matthew, Grace and their families as they work toward securing a safe and prompt return to the U.S.” |