I find this story quiet distrubing!! Though,the father was wrong to take the children, the mother was equally wrong when she brought charges against the father once her daughters were returned to her, this shows how jealous of her daughters relationship with him, does she realise that this will have a greater affect on the children. She should not have gone back on her word.
I believe these kids may be better off without living with their mother, as their beliefs and dress would cause other kids to slag them off, they should join a plain community as they mentioned. They could never settle in to normal life again and the mother would try to influnence them to live normally, I think the younger girl may survive but not the older girl. Will be looking forward to the outcome.