Angelina Jolie's Adopted Daughter Conceived in Rape.

The Ethiopian birth mother of a baby girl adopted by Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie has claimed that the child was conceived during a rape.

Mentwabe Dawit, mother of two-year-old Zahara, described how she was attacked one evening in 2004 after a day's work at a construction site in the southern Ethiopian town of Awasa. As she walked home in the darkness, a man approached.

"He pulled a dagger, put one hand on my mouth, so that I could not scream. He then raped me and disappeared," Ms Mentwabe said. The 24-year-old decided to keep the assault a secret.

"I feared the consequences of being raped in a community where rape is considered a taboo, even if what happened happened forcibly," she said. As her belly swelled, Ms. Mentwabe could no longer hide her pregnancy and confided in her mother.

"It was not as I feared. I found my mother understanding and consoling. She urged me not to do anything rash, which might endanger my life."

Ms. Mentwabe gave birth in the family's earth-floored house and she named the little girl Yemsrach, which means good news in the Amharic language. However, she soon found she was unable to feed the baby. "My baby was on the verge of death. She became malnourished and was even unable to cry," Ms. Mentwabe said.

"I was desperate and decided to run away, rather than see my child dying." Ms. Mentwabe's distraught mother searched for her for months around Awasa, 270 km south of the capital Addis Ababa. She eventually put Yemsrach up for adoption, in the belief her own daughter had died.

Ms. Mentwabe said her mother did what she thought was best, and denied newspaper reports in the United States and Europe that she wanted Yemsrach, renamed Zahara, back. "My mother was not misled by anyone, as was alleged by some media outlets. Her motive was to save the child from dying which I fully understand.

"I have never disputed the adoption of my baby by Angelina Jolie. "I think my daughter is a very fortunate human being to be adopted by a world famous lady. I wish them both all the success they deserve," she said.
Article from HearldSun.com

Amazing Mother Found by Her Daughter

Juda M. recently shared the story of finding her mother after all these years!

I was conceived when eight men raped my mother as she walked home after watching The Ten Commandments. I found her after 48 years of both of us praying to meet. Her mother wanted her to have an abortion but she said it wasn't the baby's fault so she gave me up for adoption. She never forgot me and was thrilled to meet me in 2005.

I wrote her a song called "God is Faithful" and now it has turned into a full CD. I travel the world letting people see the face of the "conceived in rape" so that we will be given a chance to live and make a difference in the world.

My mom is a hero and other women who choose to give life will be too.

Please visit www.juda4praise.com to find out more. I have just written a book and it will be published by Tate Publishing available sometime in February 2009 called "Conceived in Rape: LIVING WITH PURPOSE! Real Life, Real Forgiveness, Real Freedom." I am available for speaking and singing. God bless you for all you are doing.