Australian parents who are not allowed to see their babies as newborns are REGISTERED by Greek authorities over fears of people being followed after being born as surrogate mothers in Crete at the Mediterranean Fertility Institute
- Fertility clinic in Crete raided by police
- Handful of Australian babies arrested
A handful of Australian babies are being held by Greek authorities after a fertility clinic was raided over claims of human trafficking and fraud.
Several distraught parents, whose babies were born via surrogate mothers at the Mediterranean Fertility Institute in Crete, are not allowed to visit and cuddle their newborns – much less take them home.
About eight babies – including several Australians – are being held by the Greek government in a high-security ward of a hospital in Crete. The Australian.
Several distraught parents, whose babies were born via surrogate mothers at the Mediterranean Fertility Institute in Crete, were not allowed to visit and hug their newborns – much less take them home (stock image)
All staff at the Mediterranean Fertility Institute in Crete (pictured) have been arrested and jailed after police accused them of running a criminal organization that exploited 169 vulnerable women and forced them to become egg donors or surrogates.
The Greek police reportedly allege that the clinic was a criminal organization that exploited 169 foreign vulnerable women and forced them to become egg donors or surrogate mothers.
They also allegedly defrauded patients through sham embryo transfers and engaged in illegal adoptions.
The entire medical team of the clinic has been arrested and imprisoned, accused of child trafficking.
The raid threatens to lead to a diplomatic incident, with Australia’s ambassador to Greece, Alison Duncan, calling it a “serious situation” in several messages to the Greek government.
Ms Duncan expressed her respect for the Greek legal process but urged the country’s authorities to allow the parents to see their children.
Half of the clinic’s clientele are reportedly Australian (Photo: Testimonial from an Australian parent on the institute’s website)
“Their request for a visit recognizes that it is in the baby’s best interest to have love and attention,” Ms Duncan wrote.
“I hope for a speedy resolution of this matter for all Australian families unknowingly embroiled in this dire situation.”
The parents are reportedly required to undergo a DNA test to prove their link to their baby, but results are slow to arrive.
Even if the DNA results are positive, the Public Prosecution Service must give the parents permission to take their babies home and out of the country.
Immigration attorney Roman Deauna said there are issues with DNA confirmation and then citizenship.
“I refuse to call it a Greek tragedy, but it is,” he told The Australian.
“Can you imagine the cruelty of being denied access to your baby?
Alison Duncan, Australia’s ambassador to Greece, has called it a ‘serious situation’ in several messages to the Greek government
“They (the parents) must prove that their case is not one of the cases alleged to involve trafficking in surrogate mothers.”
The Mediterranean Fertility Institute is one of the largest surrogacy providers in Greece, with Australians reportedly making up half of their clientele.
Some estimates suggest that up to 150 Australians who currently have surrogate mothers carry their babies could be affected by the clinic’s sudden closure.
A spokesperson for Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it “continues to provide consular assistance and is actively working with Greek authorities to support a small number of families with surrogacy arrangements in Greece.”
“We understand this is a troubling time for affected families,” the spokesperson added.