A Washington mother, who moved to Saudi Arabia to teach at a university, lost custody of her husband after divorcing her husband because she was too Western to raise the child, according to a Saudi court.

Bethany Vierra, 32, lost custody of her daughter - four-year-old Zaina - in July after the court determined that the mother was too 'new to Islam.'

'The mother is new to Islam, is a foreigner in this country, and continues to definitively embrace the customs and traditions of her upbringing. We must avoid exposing (Zaina) to these customs and traditions, especially at this early age,' Judge Abdul-Ellah ibn Mohammed al-Tuwaijri said in his July ruling, according to CNN.

The 32-year-old student had moved to the Middle Eastern country in 2011 to teach at a local university.

Vierra's ex husband used her social media as evidence that she was allegedly living a non-Islamic lifestyle.

Custody was ultimately granted to the girl's Saudi grandmother, who lives with Zaina's father

His lawyers used her trip to Burning Man in their argument, dubbing it 'the world's strangest festival' where attendees 'appear in crazy clothes and stay awake all night dancing and surrounded by people wearing only shoes made of fur, or drinking drugs (sic) or cold drinks.'

Her ex-husband's lawyers also contended that her social media was 'full of nudity, intermingling of the two sexes and a lot of things and actions contrary to our religion and customs and traditions.'

Vierra claimed that her ex-husband was verbally abusive and used drugs. Her husband denies those allegations.

'There was drug use and that became an issue,' her mother, Kathi Vierra, explained.

Custody was ultimately granted to the girl's Saudi grandmother, who lives with Zaina's father.

Vierra's ex husband used her social media as evidence that she was allegedly living un-Islamic lifestyle and would have too much influence on the girl

Her ex-husband's lawyers contended that her social media was 'full of nudity, intermingling of the two sexes and a lot of things and actions contrary to our religion and customs and traditions.' Vierra was a yoga instructor and educator

'The fact that the father is residing with his mother is likely a temporary situation,' the judge stated. 'Knowing that it is in men's nature not to stay at home and not to honor/fulfill parental role themselves.'

Vierra has until Sunday to appeal the decision and the child is currently in her custody.

Her parents share that there is a warrant out for her arrest because she missed a child visitation from her ex-husband - which they claim she didn't know about.

They also claim that the woman has been banned from leaving the country for the next 10 years, failing to provide a reasoning as to why.

'She wants to have the rights to go and come. She used to have that right,' Myron Vierra, the woman's father, said.

'If Zaina can't leave, she won't leave,' Kathi Vierra, the woman's mother, said
Myron Vierra, the girl's grandfather, added: 'We love our granddaughter. I think our deepest fear is that we might not ever see her again.'
The woman's parents has come to terms with the fact that they may not ever see either the mother or her little girl

'She's working within the system. She respects the Saudi government.'

In Saudi Arabia, a woman's testimony is treated as only worth half of that of a man's.

'In court, she's treated like a child. Like a minor,' her mother added.

A US State Department official said that they were aware of the case, but could not provide a comment 'due to privacy considerations.'

'Speaking generally, the U.S. Department of State and our embassies and consulates abroad have no greater responsibility than the protection of U.S. citizens overseas. US citizens abroad are subject to local laws,' they added.

Vierra has until Sunday to appeal the decision and the child is currently in her custody

Myron shared that her daughter refuses to go down without a fight and plans to appeal the decision.

'Bethany won't give up. Because that's her daughter,' he said.

'And it makes perfect sense that she won't give up. We also realize that she may lose her life doing this, or we may never see her again.'

The couple has come to terms with the fact that they may not ever see either the mother or her little girl.

'If Zaina can't leave, she won't leave,' Kathi said.

Myron added: 'We love our granddaughter. I think our deepest fear is that we might not ever see her again.

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