Madonna adoption hearing delayed

Madonna returned to the UK ahead of David Banda

The hearing of a case brought by rights groups challenging Madonna's adoption of a Malawian boy has been postponed.

A Malawian judge delayed it until 27 October so the Attorney General could consult the children's ministry.

The Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC), representing 67 groups, claims proper procedures were not adhered to.

It says international adoption is banned and adoptive parents must be resident in Malawi for assessment. Madonna has said she followed the laws.

Disagreement

The organisation has said it is not necessarily against the adoption but wants it to be subject to the usual legal processes.

But the judge who granted Madonna interim custody of 13-month-old David Banda on 12 October, said the issue of residence was not specified in Malawi's laws.

The boy is now in London with Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie and is due to be monitored by Malawian officials over a period of 18 months before the adoption is approved.

The child's father, Yohane Banda, has said he approves of the adoption and wants human rights groups to let it go ahead.