Dutch toddler kidnapped by her father in 2004 found living in Libya

The family of a girl kidnapped in 2004 was tracked down in Tripoli, Libya by her family 18 years after her father absconded with her. Her father, Hasèn Aksema, is accused by police of murdering his ex-wife, Matisse van der Burg in August of that year, and then taking the girl, Isra, from her hometown of Goor, Overijssel, to his homeland of Libya.

Now aged 21, the girl was found by retired police detective Hans Kamperman and his colleague, Elly Sjouw, who is still on the force. The two worked on their own time to find the out what happened to the girl, and to try to give some peace to her grandparents, Ger and Clary. “Especially for them, we have always continued our search,” Sjouw told RTV Oost.

Aksema was convicted in absentia in 2006 for murdering Van der Burg and abducting Isra. He was sentenced to life in prison, police said. Seven years later, he was added to the most wanted list in the Netherlands. The last time Ger and Clary were able to communicate with Isra was in 2007.

However, Isra still lives with Aksema, and said she does not want to have any contact with her family in the Netherlands. Her grandparents said they were happy to learn she is still alive, but extremely saddened they are unlikely to be able to hold her again.

The detectives relied mainly on people who had their own networks in Libya. Eventually, they were able to find someone who offered to help them. “This man contacted us via social media at the end of August. He has lived in the Netherlands for about ten years and speaks Dutch well. An acquaintance directed him to our search, and had asked him to help us,” Sjouw told RTV Oost. He was enthusiastic, and believe he encountered Isra in Tripoli four years after the kidnapping. “I won’t stop until you have her.”

The man learned that Isra was still at Aksema’s home, and convinced Aksema to allow a conversation with Isra. It was then she said clearly she wanted a clean break from her Dutch family. Now a dedicated Muslim, she is engaged to be wed, and has no desire to maintain ties to the Netherlands.

Kamperman and Sjouw were relieved they were able to help find the girl, but at the end

For Kamperman and Sjouw, this marks the end of their years of search. A quest that they end with mixed feelings. On the one hand, the relief that Isra has finally been found and is still alive. On the other hand, the setback that they cannot reunite Grandpa Ger and Grandma Clary with her.