Madonna's adoption rejected by Malawian judge

Madonna's adoption rejected by Malawian judge

(CNN) -- Madonna's petition to adopt a second Malawian child was rejected by a local judge Friday, an official said.

Madonna is pictured leaving a court in Malawi late last month.

"The decision came down to residency requirement and the fact that the judge believes she was being well taken care of in the orphanage," said Zione Ntaba, a spokeswoman for the Malawi Justice Department.
The 50-year-old pop star has three other children, including a son she adopted from the southern African nation in 2006.
She had filed a petition to adopt a girl, Chifundo James, 4, whose first name translates to mercy in Chichewa, the country's national language.
"This is a triumph for the children of Malawi," said Mavuto Bamusi, the national coordinator of Malawi Human Rights Consultative Committee.
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"It is the perfect time for a change in child protection laws in this country. Madonna should take this positively and use the opportunity to help amore kids," Bamusi said.
"Supporting children from outside our country only helps five children of the 1.5 million orphans we have."