This family needs our help

[Guest guest]

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view & pageId=141729Parents plead for return

of 7-year-old sonDad, mom being allowed 1 hour visit every 5 weeksPosted: April

19, 2010

11:19 pm Eastern

By Bob Unruh

© 2010 WorldNetDaily A plea has been sent worldwide for moms, dads, brothers,

aunts and grandparents – in fact anyone – to contact Swedish authorities and

ask them to return to his parents a 7-year-old boy taken into police custody

over a dispute that includes the family's decision to homeschool.

Annie and Dominic Johansson

As WND reported last June, Swedish police barged into a passenger jet awaiting

departure from Sweden to India and forcibly took into custody Dominic Johansson,

7.

The Home School Legal Defense Association and members of the Alliance Defense

Fund have been advising Christer and Annie Johansson on the " state-napping " of

their son as they were preparing to move to India, Annie's home country.

Now a report from HSLDA says the " Swedish Social Services Committee " is

scheduled to meet April 23 about the case, and interested parties are being

asked to express their wish directly to Sweden's administration.

" Sadly, there has been no other change in the status of 7-year-old Dominic

Johansson, forcibly separated from his parents, Christer and Annie, more than 10

months ago. Dominic continues to be held in state custody in a foster home. His

parents are allowed monitored visits with him only once [for an hour] every five

weeks. The situation remains one of intense difficulty for the family, " HSLDA

said today.

The organization posted a listing of officials involved in the decision-making

process, along with their e-mail and telephone contact information.

 

Among the officials are Gustaf Hoffstedt, president of the social board that

will be meeting; vice president Karl-Johan Boberg; and second vice president

Sonja Landin.

Christer Johansson told WND in an interview from Sweden that he and Annie are

very tired after dealing with the stress of forced family separation for months.

His wife repeatedly has been hospitalized for symptoms they believe result from

the decision by social workers to separate the family,

He told WND of further pressure from " some kind of investigation " that

continues, even though there never has been any evidence that would justify the

state taking custody of Dominic from his parents.

His wife, he said, " gets panicked now and then. "

" We can't make any plans for the moment, " he said. " I have done what I can get

done. … We are just waiting to get Dominic back. Annie needs her family to be

able to get back [her health] at all. "

The family had planned a move to India for her to be near family members when

the conflict erupted last year.

The HSLDA documented that the child was removed " without a warrant or reasonable

cause to believe that he was being harmed.

" Their reasoning? Dominic was being homeschooled, which is permitted by Swedish

law, and his parents had also legally opted out of giving him standard

vaccinations, " the group said.

Further, in December, " after being kept in state custody for several months with

minimal visitation from his parents, a Swedish court upheld this decision. "

Christer told WND that other parents who find themselves in such situations

should " get a good lawyer " immediately.

" We're going to have a meeting with the social board in a few days, " he said.

" We're going to talk at the meeting about if they can return him. "

He said he and his wife have been shocked by what has happened.

" It's difficult for me to speak about all this and really I have not landed yet.

It's just so crazy. It's insane stuff that's happening. It has to stop, " he told

WND.

When the court ruling was announced, Donnelly, director of international

affairs for the HSLDA, called the court decision " deeply disturbing. "

" The hostility against homeschooling and for parent's rights is contrary to

everything expected from a Western nation, " he said.

Support also is being generated for the family on Facebook.

Said one forum participant, " My brother was kidnapped once for 4 months... so I

know a bit of the heartache you are experiencing... but now as a parent, I

cannot bear to even THINK of your brokenness! This has gone on much too long! "

Christer shared one of Annie's episodes of ill health on the blog: " The

ambulance was here just a few min back, this is the fourth time Annie collapses

with chest pain. We had a meeting with the socials a few weeks back, and Annie

could not believe how bad they treat people, how much they humiliate! … I

really wonder, do they know how to stop before she dies or what? I'm more angry

then ever, this has to stop! "

There also is a petition on Dominic's behalf.

Speak with Him Thou for He hearest.

Spirit with Spirit can speak.

Closer is Love than breathing,

Nearer than hands and feet.

(with appreciation for Tennyson)

=

[Guest guest]

Just curious, is there something about Swedish law that they are able to do this? Could something like this happen in the US?>> autism blog <<