The family of a Feltham mum detained by the authorities in Syria while on holiday with her children have told of their fears for her safety.

Rwida Hamoud, 40, has been prevented from leaving the country for over a month, but her children Sally, 14, Dayana, 11, and five-year-old Mohamed were allowed to fly back alone on May 9.

Her family, of Highfield Road, Feltham, believe she has been jailed to punish her former husband Wahed Saker – a journalist who accused the Syrian Government of corruption.

Mr Saker, who sought asylum in Britain in 1998, said relatives in Syria told him they and their solicitor had not been allowed to visit her.

He has moved into the family’s home to look after his children.

His daughter Sally, who goes to Heathland School, said her mum, a British citizen, was stopped from returning home on April 25, and was told to contact the authorities.

She said: “We came back on May 9, we were three weeks late for school. She came with us to the gates but she had to go, she wasn’t allowed to go any further, we just carried on alone.

“Seeing her kids go like that was really hard, she wasn’t quite sure if she was going to see us again.”

The family spoke with Ms Hamoud on the phone for about a week until relatives in Syria called to say she had been taken to prison.

Mr Saker said his 27-year-old son in Syria had been attacked, and was worried about where his former wife was being held and whether she had been harmed.

He said: “Every day the children are crying.”

Dilawar Alsibahie, a family friend, said: “No one knows where she is or what’s happened to her.

"We believe they have harmed her and that’s why they won’t let anybody see her.

“She had nothing to do with the politics, it is like a revenge.

"Wahed is heartbroken, but what can he do?”

Dayana described her mum as “awesome” and has written to the Syrian president’s wife to ask for her to be released.

The family said teachers and parents at Heathland School and Orchard Primary School had offered their support.

A Foriegn Office spokesman said: “We are providing consular assistance to a British woman in Syria.

"We have raised the case with the Syrian authorities.”

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