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| 'No concerns' with mixed faith foster case | 'No concerns' with mixed faith foster case |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| There were no concerns about the welfare of a Christian girl said to have been fostered by a Muslim family, a family court judge has ruled. | There were no concerns about the welfare of a Christian girl said to have been fostered by a Muslim family, a family court judge has ruled. |
| The girl, aged five, has now been placed in the care of her grandmother on the request of the child's mother. | The girl, aged five, has now been placed in the care of her grandmother on the request of the child's mother. |
| The London Borough of Tower Hamlets, the local authority responsible for the girl's welfare, raised concerns about the media's reporting of the case. | The London Borough of Tower Hamlets, the local authority responsible for the girl's welfare, raised concerns about the media's reporting of the case. |
| The child was originally taken into foster care by the council in March. | The child was originally taken into foster care by the council in March. |
| The council said there was no culturally-matched foster placement available, therefore the child was placed in the temporary care of a mixed-race family. | The council said there was no culturally-matched foster placement available, therefore the child was placed in the temporary care of a mixed-race family. |
| Contrary to some media reports the council claimed the foster family was English-speaking. | |
| But the child's mother, who has issues with substance abuse, expressed concerns about this arrangement. | But the child's mother, who has issues with substance abuse, expressed concerns about this arrangement. |
| The court-appointed guardian visited the foster family and reported no problems and that the child had been well cared for. | The court-appointed guardian visited the foster family and reported no problems and that the child had been well cared for. |
| The child's mother, however, requested that her daughter be moved, asking that she live with her maternal grandmother. | The child's mother, however, requested that her daughter be moved, asking that she live with her maternal grandmother. |
| After an assessment, Tower Hamlets agreed that this would be the best option for the child. | After an assessment, Tower Hamlets agreed that this would be the best option for the child. |
| The council expressed concern with the media coverage of the story. | |
| Director of children's services Debbie Jones said: "We are disappointed with the tone of some of the media coverage, especially given the judge's comments yesterday that reporting has been intrusive for both the child and the foster carer." | |
| She claimed that there were inaccuracies in some of the reporting, but added due to legal restrictions the council could not go into further detail. | |
| Judge Khatun Sapnara said she was concerned about photographs of the child and foster carer that were published in the press. | |
| She added that the new arrangements were nothing to do with reports of the foster child in the press. | |
| Ms Jones said the council gave "significant consideration" to the cultural background of a foster family, but added the proximities to schools and being close to their blood relatives was also important. |