Hamilton man, daughter missing in Panama; Infant son found dead

In a tragic and disturbing incident, Ghassan Iqbal, a resident of Hamilton, Canada, has disappeared with his two young children in Panama. The body of his seven-month-old son, Musa, was found in a river in the Changuinola area after more than a week of searching.

The family, who moved to Panama about a year ago, left their home on May 21 without their cell phones, wallets, money, or food and never returned.

Panamanian judicial authorities announced that after conducting a DNA test, the identity of the body found in the river was confirmed to be that of Musa Iqbal. The search for his father and his two-year-old daughter, Nusayba, continues unabated.

Musa’s funeral and funeral prayers were held in the city of Changuinola on Thursday, and a prayer service (salat al-gha’ib) is scheduled to be held on Sunday at the Islamic Center in Hamilton, Canada.

Family Travels to Panama

Ghassan Iqbal is a graduate of McMaster University in Hamilton who was in Canada last summer. He immigrated to the country about a year ago with his Panamanian wife. His family says he had been struggling with mental health issues for some time and was hospitalized for three weeks at St. Joseph’s Psychiatric Hospital in Hamilton last year.

However, his family says the last video call with him was normal and uneventful a few days before he disappeared. Two days after that call, he left home with his two young children at 6 a.m. and has not been heard from since.

Family and close relatives have traveled from Canada and elsewhere to Panama to help with the search. They say searchers are working from dawn to dusk every day in the difficult terrain and banana plantations of the area, despite a lack of local resources.

Ambiguity over reasons for disappearance

The family says it is still unclear why Ghassan Iqbal left home with his two children that day. The possibility of a mental crisis, kidnapping or even the involvement of other factors has not been ruled out or confirmed by authorities.

His sister-in-law, Nagham Azam Iqbal, said she was concerned about his mental health in Panama and that the lack of access to proper medical care could have made things worse. She added: “The weather conditions, the rugged terrain and the lack of facilities to care for two young children in this situation are very worrying. We just want to find our little girl safe.”

Aid and follow-up from Canada

The man’s family has asked the Canadian government to intervene in the matter and provide more resources. In this regard, Lisa Hefpner, the MP for Hamilton, announced that she is following up on the matter through the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs. She said: “From the moment I became aware of the matter, I began communicating with the authorities and the family.”

Public campaigns and appeals for help

At the same time, public campaigns and fundraising have been launched to cover the costs of the search, and the family hopes that with increased awareness and international assistance, they will be able to find Nasibeh and bring clarity to this case.

The Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also announced in a statement: “We regret the death of this child and stand with the family. Consular officers are in constant contact with local authorities and are assisting the family.”

Request for information from the public

Finally, the family asked anyone in Panama or Canada with information about Ghassan Iqbal, Nasibeh, or the events of that day to contact the police or the family as soon as possible.

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