Sperm Smuggling Palestinian Prisoner Meets His Child For The First Time

Desperate Palestinian Prisoners Resorting To Sperm Smuggling

Desperate Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons are resorting to smuggling their sperm to start families.

Around 4,700 Palestinians reside in the country's jails and married inmates are not allowed conjugal visits.

Doctors at Razan fertility clinic in Nablus told Al Jazeera they had frozen the sperm of over 70 prisoners.

Majd Rimawi is one of dozens of children known to have been born as a result of the practice.

The 15-month-old toddler met his father Abdul Karim Rimawi for the first time last month after only hearing stories from mother Lydia.

Lydia refused to comment on how they managed to sneak her husband's sperm out of the prison, other than how difficult it was.

She also had trouble getting the child in to meet him.

Attempting to introduce Abdul Karim to his son in 2013, Lydia went to Nafha prison but guards were sceptical about letting Majd in.

She said: "Guards snapped, said my husband has been in jail for 12 years, there’s no way that baby was his."

This forced the father to admit he had smuggled sperm, which resulted in a $1,500 fine and other punishments.

Following a lengthy human rights appeal, Majd was allowed to meet his father on November 25.

It wasn't without struggles however. Lydia wasn't allowed in, so Majd had to visit with his older sister instead.

Rand, 14, told Al Jazeera: "Majd wouldn't let go of dad for the 10 minutes he was allowed to see him."

Lydia has vowed to keep smuggling her husband's product, saying: "I tried for another IVF when Majd was eight months; it didn't work. I will try again."

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