Canaries woman to be extradited to Germany for abducting her son

A Spanish woman from the Canary Islands on Friday faces imminent extradition to Germany where she is accused of having abducted her four-year-old son.

Minerva Marrero, a 26-year-old from Las Palmas de Canaria, left Munich in July after abandoning her husband whom she has accused of mistreating her. The father, who has joint Spanish and German nationality, formally accused her of having abducted their son. After receiving an extradition request from Munich, the High Court in Spain issued an order for her arrest and transfer to Germany.

According to family members, Marrero arrived in the Canary Islands on July 18 after the Spanish consulate in Munich issued her a document to allow her to travel with her son, given that her husband had seized her passport.

They said Marrero did not report the alleged mistreatment by her husband to the German police because she was advised by a lawyer that she would have no problems leaving Germany.

Her sister Teresa Marrero said Minerva filed an abuse complaint with a court in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, which declined to accept it, saying it was outside its jurisdiction since the alleged offense took place in Germany.

Dozens of people on Thursday held a protest in support of the family outside the offices of the central government’s representative in Las Palmas in an effort to halt the extradition. Marrero’s brother Juan said his sister had collaborated with judicial officials and did not understand why she had to remain in prison until her extradition, which could take place on Saturday.