Three-year-old Mohamed-Ali Hilal Jaafar was with his parents in Muscat, Oman, when he was last seen by his mother on January 20, 2006. His mother says the father, Hilal Hasan Ali Jaafar (also believed to use the name Hilal bin Hasan Al-Lawati), refused to let the child leave with her when she prepared to return to Toledo, Ohio, and she returned to the United States alone.

Mohamed-Ali was about three feet tall, with curly brown hair and brown eyes, weighing 22 to 25 pounds at the time. He has several nicknames, including Hamudy, and may speak Arabic and a local dialect. The father is described as an imam near Muscat, a member of the Al-Lawati tribe, and having known violent tendencies. A felony kidnapping warrant for Hilal was issued on August 11, 2008; the case is being handled by the Toledo Police Department and the FBI, and Mohamed-Ali is believed to remain in the Al-Khouair area of Muscat. Oman does not have an extradition treaty with the United States, complicating enforcement of the warrant.

If anyone knew Mohamed-Ali’s whereabouts in Oman or has information that could help secure his return, please come forward.