A mom whose fixation with 'tidy eating' led to the death of her significantly malnourished toddler has actually revealed remorse at her way of life saying she now understands she was residing in a harmful 'bubble'.
laws.com
Naiyahmi Yasharahyalah, 43, said she now 'wanted she had done more research about ... healthy diet plans' however was 'attempting to secure myself from all the bad things in the world'.

She and her hubby Tai, 42, were jailed for a total of 44 years in December over the death of 3 year old Abiyah, whose remains were found buried in the back garden of their previous Birmingham home.

The couple, both degree-educated, resided in squalor after turning their back on society, enduring just on fruit, nuts and seeds having established a 'kingdom' in which they lived under their own religious beliefs and laws.

They were discovered to have willfully neglected Abiyah by stopping working to offer him with sufficient food and to essential medical attention - prioritising their 'distorted system of beliefs' over his well-being.

A review by Birmingham Safeguarding Children Partnership, released today, suggests health and social care employees and authorities might have been put off challenging to couple's religions over fears of being viewed as inequitable.

The report said Abiyah became 'invisible and lost from expert view' following a lack of 'expedition or interest' by health visitors while the Covid-19 lockdown in March 2020 likely contributed to the 'lack of follow-through activity'.

Naiyahmi Yasharahyalah, 43, said it was now 'hard to accept that my method did not lead to the very best outcomes for my child which it took the court process to take me out of that bubble'.

Tai, the 42-year-old child of a former Nigerian federal government authorities, was jailed for 24-and-a-half years at Coventry Crown Court in December after being convicted of triggering the death of Abiyah, child ruthlessness and perverting the course of justice. He declined to be spoken with for the review

Abiyah Yasharahyalah was discovered buried in the garden of the cpuple's previous home in Clarence Road, Handsworth, Birmingham

Abiyah's birth in 2016 was signed up however he was not seen by medics or experts after 2018 and his death in January 2020 went undetected. Officials only found the young boy had actually died nearly 3 years later on, after cops were asked to conduct a welfare check on the couple.

They confessed burying him in the garden after laying with his body for 8 days in the hope he would be reincarnated.

When his remains were exhumed, he was found to have had serious malnutrition, rickets, anaemia and stunted development thanks to his restricted diet. His decaying teeth were falling out and he had five fractures that would have triggered dreadful discomfort.

The review stated the case demonstrated the requirement for 'specialists to be confident to ask concerns about various cultures and belief systems without fear of being perceived as discriminatory'.

Abiyah was last seen by doctor in 2018 after which there was a 'catastrophic deterioration in his health and well-being between that point and his death in early 2020 due to the appalling disregard by his moms and dads'. Report author Kevin Bell said the last months his life 'need to have been unimaginably unfortunate and painful'.

Both the mother and father were stated to be members of Royal Ahayah's Witness referred to as an 'unknown religious motion that has ties to Black Israelites and is based upon the belief that mainstream Christianity is created to rule over the Black Community.'

Tai and Naiyahmi Yasharahyalah pictured leaving Coventry Crown Court

The indication on the front door of the couple's home in Birmingham

Pictures from inside the couple's home in Birmingham showing the squalor they resided in

The review stated their hostility towards those in authority caused the focus of specialists to be 'diverted or sidetracked' from the children's welfare while the couple's various name changes and aliases made it more hard for agencies to track and share details efficiently.

It kept in mind that Abiyah 'was only ever seen by a little number of professionals throughout his lifetime, and for a limited time just'.

According to records, he was seen by a health visitor in April 2016 shortly after his birth, and the following month for a check-up.

There was some contact in 2018 with a local authority social worker in London and 4 check outs to a kids's centre in Birmingham, but the review stated: 'Records of these contacts and interactions are really minimal, enhancing that there was very little insight into (Abiyah's) presence, health or welfare.'

Abiyah's parents' trial heard cops checked out the Clarence Road residential or commercial property in Handsworth three times, including in February 2018 when Abiyah was alive.

The review specified that with regard to this check out 'no details were tape-recorded' about Abiyah, with his existence 'almost unnoticeable on evaluation of records'.

Elsewhere, the review kept in mind 'no exploration or interest' from the health visiting service, run by Birmingham Community Health Care NHS Foundation Trust, about Abiyah's mom's desire for a home birth without any medical intervention.

In March 2020, health visitor records stated it had actually been noted at a securing meeting that Abiyah had actually not been seen by them given that his six-week assessment, with consultations at the one and two-year marks considering that his birth not went to.

He had also not gotten any regular immunisations. While a follow-up inquiry was planned, there was no record of why it never happened, although the evaluation specified that the coronavirus lockdown which started that year likely contributed.

The different authorities entering contact with the kid's household revealed a 'general lack of knowledge or assessment of the moms and dads' belief systems', leading to an 'inadequate understanding about the effect on his care, the review said.

It included that his parents' behaviour 'typically sidetracked or diverted expert attention' far from his safety and welfare.

The evaluation specified: 'Parental resistance of guidance, assistance or authority ultimately led to (Abiyah) becoming unnoticeable and lost from professional view.'

The report included reflections that while social employees had know the family's culture and parents' beliefs and way of life, they appeared not to have actually considered 'with in-depth curiosity' the influence on Abiyah's security and wellbeing, 'such as if certainly his general needs were being satisfied'.

Tai, the 42-year-old son of a former Nigerian government authorities, was jailed for 24-and-a-half years at Coventry Crown Court in December while 43-year-old Naiyahmi got a 19-and-a-half-year sentence after being convicted of causing the death of Abiyah, child cruelty and perverting the course of justice.

Judge Mr Justice Wall said the truth the couple had taken no photographs of the kid in the last 4 months of his life was 'a clear indication that you by then how ill he was'.

The judge told them: 'Abiyah died as a result of your wilful disregard of him. He was seriously stunted in his growth - at almost four years of age, he was buried in the clothes of an 18-month-old. 'It is tough to envision a worse case of disregard.'

Abiyah Yasharahyalah was believed to be aged around 3 when he passed away in early 2020

The couple shot themselves dancing with meat cleavers

As part of the review, the views of both moms and dads were sought. Tai refused to be interviewed however Yasharahyalah agreed informing the evaluation it was now 'hard to accept that my technique did not lead to the very best outcomes for my kid and that it took the court process to take me out of that bubble'.

She stated at the time, she did not believe Abiyah needed assist with any health problem.

In a statement, James Thomas and Sue Harrison Co-Chairs of the Birmingham Safeguarding Children Partnership, said the review had 'recognized crucial knowing'.

They stated: 'Learning consists of companies collaborating jointly to protect kids who end up being 'out of sight' and working better with families who find themselves on the fringes of society, helping them to gain access to support and stepping in where needed when kids are at danger.

'Protecting kids out of expert sight is a genuine obstacle, given the limits of statutory powers to make sure all children are regularly seen. Our Partnership has actually made this one of our leading strategic concerns to guarantee that we do whatever we possibly can to determine risk to those kids who run out sight.'

Three-year-old's garden grave: Vegan moms and dads 'badly malnourished' child up until he passed away

An NSPCC representative stated: 'While the parents of little Abiyah are eventually accountable for his death, this review brings into sharp focus why it is essential that specialists demonstrate interest and examination.

'This indicates asking penetrating questions, enrolling and sharing details and undertaking quality assessments to inform an understanding of the effect of the moms and dads' behaviour on the child.

'This is especially challenging when moms and dads are reluctant and resistant to engage, which in this circumstance took the focus far from the security of this little kid until unfortunately it was far far too late.

'Having the confidence to recognise and know how to check ethnic culture, cultural and belief related behaviours, while keeping an open mind, can help child protecting specialists across companies build better relationships with families and identify the effect and prospective risks to kids.

'It is acknowledged that this and the other finding out points raised by the evaluation have been taken on board by the organisations included and modifications have actually been made to better secure kids.'