They could have barred Adam/Fawaz from leaving until the case was settled. And if he was stopped, the mother would have stayed here with him.
It's not rocket science.

And even if you think that couldn't have happened initially, you've got to admit that the fact that the Qatari authorities did (and have done) nothing to ensure that the mother is allowed to see and talk with her son is abhorrent.

Here we are, going on 2 months now that the child hasn't seen or spoken to his mother. The uncle promises a visit and then yanks it after he's left official offices. This country must not have any child protective services department like they do in the States. Maybe they should consider creating one so that the welfare of the CHILD is defended and protected. Adam/Fawaz needs an advocate for HIS rights because his paternal relatives and the Qatari government apparently have their own agendas.

Question for you Bleu: if the uncle/family had lost the custody case, do you think any sort of consequence/penalty would have been handed down to the uncle for taking the boy in the first place?

I don't.

"If you're looking for sympathy, you'll find it between sh*t and syphilis in the dictionary."
- David Sedaris