How much power should a government have in determining how a child should be educated? What laws did Domenic's parents break? They homeschooled their son. Should homeschooling a child be grounds for losing custody?
State-Sponsored Child-Napping in Sweden
Domenic Johansson was a typical happy 7-year-old boy with one small difference. His parents made the choice that Domenic be homeschooled instead of attending Swedish public schools and they opted out of having Domenic vaccinated. Both actions are legal in Sweden. As Domenic and his parents were about to fly to India (Domenic’s mother is Indian-born) armed Swedish police stormed the airplane and seized Domenic, taking him away from his parents, possibly permanently.
The officers had no warrant and the parents have never been charged with any crime. After one year, Domenic is still in a foster home and attending a government school. His parents are only allowed to visit him for one hour every five weeks. With no evidence of any abuse or neglect on the part of the parents, the Swedish government has determined that "the state" is better qualified to raise Domenic than the parents.
Johansson Family Endures Year Long Legal Nightmare
Christer and Annie Johansson thought they were doing the best for their child, Domenic. But, instead, their only child has been taken from them. They are now facing unexpected legal expenses to try and get the custody of their child back. Incredibly, the Swedish government has actually removed the attorney of the family's choice and replaced with another attorney of the government’s choice.
Attorney Ruby Harrold-Claesson was hired by the Johansson’s to plead their case in Swedish courts since she is the president of the Nordic Committee for Human Rights and a well-known advocate for families in disputes with social-services agents over custody of their children. [1] However, a judge banished Harrold-Claesson and replaced her with a new attorney. Johansson learned of the change by email and is appealing the ban. The court removed Harrold-Claesson because she attempted to see Domenic and speak with him in the school where social-services agents placed him.
Harrold-Claesson is appealing the court’s decision but the Swedish government is placing this case on the fast track hoping to have the issue resolved before Harrold-Claesson legally returns as the Johansson’s attorney. A website has been created for petitions in defense of Domenic.
Johansson Case Proceeds to the European Court of Human Rights
Two organizations have come to the aid of the Johansson family representing them before the European Court of Human Rights. The Alliance Defense Fund and the Home School Legal Defense Association have begun to assist the Johanssons. The case has reached international levels because the Swedish courts refused to review a lower court’s decision that affirmed the abduction of Domenic.
Sweden – Social Utopia?
Sweden is held up as the "perfect society" that cares well for its people. The Johansson case puts this utopian society under a microscope and exposes what life is truly like in Sweden. "June 25, 2010, marks the one-year anniversary of the violent seizure of the child. So traumatized was Domenic by the acts of armed police on behalf of the Visby Social Services board, witnesses tell us he vomited during and shortly after the shocking scene when uniformed Swedish police stormed an India-bound jetliner just moments before takeoff," states a report submitted to a Swedish court. [1]
"The attack on homeschoolers appears to be part of a trend in some Western nations, including Germany. WND (World Net Daily) reported when a German family was granted asylum in the United States because of the persecution members would face if returned to their home country." [1]
The question needs to be asked, "Who are Domenic Johansson’s parents?" Does he belong to Sweden or his parents? Ironically, the Johansson’s were on the airplane to return to India where Domenic was enrolled to attend classes in a public school. A family has been torn apart, a child traumatized, with Sweden stating, "This was done for ‘the boy’s sake’." And, recently, photography (a hobby Domenic enjoyed with his parents) has also been banned.
Mike Donnelly, staff attorney for the Home School Legal Defense Association adds, "In response to our inquiries, Swedish authorities have cited the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child to explain and defend their actions. If the U.S. were to ever ratify this treaty, as the White House and some members of Congress desire, then this sort of thing could occur here." [1]
[1] Kaplan, Drew. "State ‘child-napping’ escalates to international court," Health Freedom Alliance, June 26, 2010.
Barbara Pytel - Email me Experience Although I was never particularly fond of going to school as an ELL student, I ironically became a teacher, ...
