Somali women protest against lesbian couple fostering child in care

Women from the Somali community staged a protest outside of Harrow Civic Centre after a child was put into the care of a lesbian couple.

The child, who the Observer cannot name for legal reasons, was taken into care and went to a new family today.

More than 30 women took to the home of Harrow Council in Station Road voicing their outrage that the child had been placed into the care of a lesbian couple, claiming it was against the religious beliefs of the child’s mother.

A Harrow council spokesman said: “Adoption decisions are taken after lengthy and extremely thorough consideration of what is in the child’s best interests and we always strive to identify the best parents possible, and ensure a child is placed as early in life as possible. These are always difficult decisions.

“We have met Somali community representatives in this case and are happy to talk through their concerns. In addition the Somali community have offered to work with us on raising the profile of fostering and adoption in their community.”