Beth’s battle for twins ends as judge dismisses appeal

The family of a British Jewish woman fighting a nightmarish custody battle in Vienna for two her twin boys have spoken of a “travesty of justice” after an appeal court judge rejected their final application this week.

Beth Schlesinger (nee Alexander) has been fighting against court rulings depriving her of access to her toddler sons, a decision supporters say was “shocking and unjustified”.  This week the father was awarded 100% custody.

“They rejected everything,” said Beth’s brother Adrian, who blasted the process from start to finish. “They rejected our application for custody, our application for better visitation rights, our application to fine the father for all the cancelled visits and our application for an assessment of the father and the children.”

The ongoing case, which has been roundly criticised for its fairness and handling, had been subsequently sent back to the lower court for further processing. A custody decision in July granting the father full custody was appealed, and the family finally received a response from the appeal court on Wednesday.

The decision would have a huge impact on the boys, said Adrian, who explained that the decision to take the children away from their mother had left the twins “traumatised”.

“This is clearly a travesty of justice. I feel furious that an EU country can call this justice. Why then have they taken the children from her in the most barbaric manner? Whatever happened to International Law? Whatever happened to the EU convention of Human Rights? We will not be rest until justice is carried out.”