We are all Habiba

Okay, so a couple of nights ago I was reading the story of Habiba and Alma. For those of you who have not yet heard this story, Habiba is a young Moroccan mother of a 15-month old living in Spain. She was living in a facility designed for mother's caring for children who financially have no place to go. According to the Minor and Family Institute of Madrid (IMMF), extended breast feeding -- that is, anything beyond 12 months-- is harmful to the child and demands that all mothers of babies older than 12 months take medication to dry up their milk. But Habiba, knowing that she is doing the best thing to nourish her child by breast feeding, refused to take the medications and continued to nurse her baby. So what happened next? IMMF ripped the child away from her mother, because she was still being breast fed! And furthermore, the institute where Habiba was living also kicked her out because she was no longer caring for a child.
Now, I'm not exactly sure where the IMMF gets their information about breast feeding being harmful to a child. Every single piece of medical research out there states that breast milk is the BEST source of nutrients for a baby. And yes, 15 months old is still a baby. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that the recommended minimum age for breast feeding is 2 years of age or beyond. 
I cannot imagine any institutions, agency, or government taking my baby from me simply because I am nourishing her in the best way that I see fit. Especially when it is documented everywhere that this is the BEST way to feed her. This story is absolutely heartbreaking, and every time I think about it I get so enraged at the struggle this poor mom is going through having her baby taken away from her without even being able to say goodbye. And the baby, Alma, has not had anybody tell her why she was taken away from her mother. Does this agency truly believe that breast feeding is really more damaging to a child than ripping a baby away from her only family without a goodbye or explaination?
If you would like to help support Habiba and Alma, check out the official facebook page and find out how you can help! And then go kiss your child, and be glad we live in a country that, although not perfect, doesn't strip our babies from us because we are doing the best job we know how.