Calgary man denied bail after international child abduction case

A Calgary man accused of abducting his young son and evading authorities for nearly two years will remain in custody after a judge denied his request for bail.

Court heard that Muhammad Zia-Ur Rahman, 62, was considered a significant flight risk, with the judge agreeing with Crown prosecutors that his past actions showed a willingness to flee Canadian jurisdiction. The Crown argued detention was necessary to ensure his appearance at future court proceedings.

Rahman is charged in connection with the alleged abduction of his son, who was five years old at the time, in December 2023. Police say the case triggered an extensive international search involving multiple agencies as the child was believed to have been taken out of the country.

Authorities located and arrested Rahman last month in Mauritius, an island nation east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. The child was also found and taken into protective care, though police have not released further details due to the child’s age and privacy concerns.

The case has drawn attention in Calgary and across Alberta, highlighting the challenges law enforcement faces in cross-border child abduction cases and the importance of international cooperation in recovering missing children.