'Heartbroken' British father fears he'll never see his six-year-old son again after boy's mother took him to Peru - and authorities say they are powerless to act

A devastated father fears he will never see his young son again after his ex-wife failed to return from a trip to Peru with him two years ago. Asim Hanif, 48, from West London, described feeling 'emotionally wrecked' since Aidan, six, was effectively abducted by his Peruvian-born mother, Karen Perales.The couple, who divorced after four years of marriage in July 2023, had agreed to share custody and followed the arrangement for almost a year without any concerns.In March 2024, the financial adviser travelled with Aidan to visit her family in the country's capital, Lima. But a week later they failed to board their flight back to the UK and instead 'just vanished'. The distraught accountant said her actions were in breach of a court order, seen by Daily Mail and made by consent between the couple, which set out joint custody and living arrangements.In the months since his 'nightmare' began, Mr Hanif has made an application for Aidan's return under the Hague Convention, while the British embassy in Peru has issued a diplomatic note on his behalf. He is now anxiously awaiting the outcome of an appeal after a judge accepted Aidan has been wrongfully kept in Peru, but was unwilling to order his return because of the amount of time that has now passed.Mr Hanif was able to fleetingly see his son this month while the appeal is still being considered - but fears he may never see him again if the courts decide his child must stay in Peru. Asim Hanif is fighting for the return of his son, Aidan, six, who was taken by his ex-wife to Peru two years ago. The pair reunited during a supervised court visit in Lima this month Mr Hanif has described feeling 'emotionally wrecked' since Aidan, pictured as a baby, was effectively abducted by his Peruvian-born mother, Karen Perales (right)He is calling for more legal options for parents who have had their child taken to another country by an ex-partner without their permission. Mr Hanif, who also has an older son, Adam, 18, from a previous relationship, described his situation as 'unbearable'.He said: 'I'm devastated. When you have someone in your life who has died, you can slowly learn to live with it, but this is something I can't describe. 'It has destroyed my life. 'My son and I had such a happy life here in London, we were so connected. It was a perfect life, and then all of a sudden I don't understand what happened.'Physically, emotionally, I am just wrecked. It's unbearable at times. One minute you see your child on a daily basis, and then all of a sudden he's gone from your life. 'It's just a nightmare.'He added that his elderly mother, who is recovering from cancer treatment, refuses to visit his home anymore because 'it reminds her of Aidan'.'We're a small family, but a close family. Aidan was the youngest, he brought lots of energy and happiness to everyone in our life. My mother has other grandchildren but he was the baby of the family, very cute and lovable.'Mr Hanif said that since his ex-wife failed to return from Peru in March 2024, he knows 'nothing about her whereabouts'.He began proceedings under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, to which Peru is a signatory, in July 2024. The concerned father was told a decision would be made 'within a few months', but his case was not heard in the Peruvian courts until April of this year. 'They have accepted that Aidan was taken unlawfully and his habitual residence is in the UK, but they rejected my claim because of the length of time he has been away,' Mr Hanif explained. Mr Hanif, pictured with his son as a newborn, is anxiously awaiting the decision of an appeal going through the Peruvian courts - and fears he may never see his son again He has now lodged an appeal and is expecting a decision within weeks. Mr Hanif has travelled to Peru on seven separate occasions in a bid to see his son, and finally spoke to Aidan over the phone and saw him during brief court-supervised visits earlier this month. The youngster was brought to the court by Ms Perales' relatives.'When we saw each other again, Aidan wouldn't let go of me,' he said emotionally, adding his son has autism and had been receiving specialist care in the UK before he left.'I'm hoping that there is some amicable solution to this. It's not about me, it's about Aidan. He needs both his parents.'I want to see my son, I want to hold him and not be sitting in the middle of a courtroom.'We need to be looking at the bigger picture about where Aidan should be. He belongs where he was brought up. 'You can't just say that because he's been in Peru two years we should leave him there. That's like justifying a wrong.'Advocacy group Fathers4Justice has been supporting Mr Hanif in his legal action. Group founder Matt O’Connor, who attended Mr Hanif's appeal hearing in Lima on September 3, said the case highlighted how current legislation is 'wholly inadequate' to deal with such cases.He said: 'The British government needs to introduce more effective measures to prevent the abduction of children who are British citizens to other parts of the world with impunity.'The Hague Convention, which is supposed to aid the recovery of abducted minors, is wholly inadequate and not fit for purpose. 'I am concerned that the courts [in Peru] will not return Aidan to the UK, forcing his father into 12,000-mile round trips to see his son.'He added: 'We are not giving up on Aidan until he is returned home.'The British Embassy in Peru has sent a diplomatic note to the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs recording an interest in the case and requesting the best interests of the child be taken into account.An FCDO spokesperson said: 'We're supporting the family of a British child in Peru and are in touch with the authorities.'