“In Touch” is set to publish an article claiming that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt may have to return their adopted daughter, Zahara. Angelina adopted her from Ethiopia in June 2005 when Zahara was six months old. Zahara was severely dehydrated and malnourished and had to be hospitalized when she first came to the U.S. Angelina said, “she was six months and not nine pounds. Her skin, you could squeeze it, it stuck together.” When she adopted Zahara, Angelina was told that she was an AIDS orphan. However it’s now looking like that’s not really the case, and Zahara’s birth mother is alive and well – and wants her daughter back.

“She’s from Ethiopia. She’s an AIDS orphan,” Angelina said. But Zahara’s adoption papers, which an “In Touch” representative was shown on November 12, clearly states that Zahara has a grandmother and extended family alive in Africa— and the grandmother introduced “In Touch” to her daughter, who claims to be Zahara’s mother.

The cover story notes that while her birth family may not be able to afford to challenge Zahara’s adoption, they do claim they were misled. They say a local official, who took Zahara to the adoption agency, told the family they would get to see the baby again and maintain contact with her. Most people hoping to adopt who are working with the U.S.- based agency Wide Horizons for Children (which Angelina used to adopt Zahara) visit the child’s village and surviving family members.

[From the National Ledger]

Angelina is said to have wanted to travel to visit Zahara’s village and meet her extended family, but wasn’t able to since there were so many journalists trailing her. Perhaps if the circumstances had been different, she would have been able to meet Zahara’s grandmother, who signed the adoption papers turning Zahara over to Wide Horizons. The article goes on to say that Zahara’s birth mother, Mentewab Dawit Lebiso, was raped by a man who broke into her home and became pregnant with Zahara. Lebiso briefly ran away after feeling frustrated and scared with the responsibility of the child. It was during this time that her grandmother gave Zahara to the adoption agency, since she was unable to provide for the child. It isn’t clear from the article if the grandmother really thought her daughter was dead, or simply said so to proceed with the adoption.

Could her birth mother get Zahara back? Mentewab Dawit Lebiso, 24, the woman that claims to be the birth mother never signed the papers giving up her daughter, which could give her a case for getting Zahara back — if she had the money to pursue it. “If some family member comes in and leaves the child at an orphanage and signs her over, and then the mother wants her back, you can make the argument that the person didn’t truly understand that their child is gone forever,” says adoption specialist Jerri Jenista.

Mentewab struggled to feed her family. “Sometimes all I had was a piece of bread all day,” she tells In Touch. Zahara’s mother Mentewab sells onions at the market. Her grandmother Almaz says they couldn’t afford to keep Zahar. “I would tell other families not to give up their children,” says Zahara’s aunt Frehiwot, 18, with another aunt, Zinash Haile Yenero. “I would tell them what happened to us.”

Dawit Lebiso, 24, tells In Touch. “Her grandmother and I both tried very hard to raise her, and I want her to come home to regain her identity.”

[From the National Ledger]

Angelina is said to be aware of the existence of Zahara’s birth mother, though for how long isn’t clear. The article goes on to say that Angie believes what’s most important is what’s best for Zahara, and in her opinion that’s staying with her. From all the things that have been written about her, it seems clear that Angie does want to make sure Zahara knows where she comes from, appreciates her history, and has a sense of connection. But “In Touch” states that Angelina doesn’t want Zahara to meet her biological family at such a young age, feeling that it could be confusing to her. Other adoption experts say it’s a good idea to do that early on so it’s always a part of the child’s life. It seems highly unlikely that Brad and Angelina would actually have to give Zahara back, but it’s interesting to know more of her history.