Four years ago Swedish socials service officials took, seven-year-old, Dominic Johansson from his parents as the family boarded an international flight. Armed police seized the boy without arrest warrants. Swedish officials placed him in a foster home. The boy has still not been restored to his parents, Christer and Annie Johansson.
What heinous crime did the Johansson’s commit? What did they do to their son to warrant such extreme actions from the Swedish government? They homeschooled Dominic. This happened before homeschooling was made illegal in the nation.
After 3 years, the Johansson’s finally got their case reviewed by a district court in Gotland. The court said it could not ignore the unanimous and extensive testimony of firsthand accounts of friends, family and others that Domenic Johansson was being properly cared for by his parents. The court restored the Johanssons’ parental rights. However, social services persisted and a mi-level court over turned the decision. Domenic, now at 11, has not been allowed to see his parents for 3 years!
Alliance Defending Freedom along with the United States based, Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), has appealed Christer and Annie Johansson’s case to the highest court of Sweden.
HSLDA Director of International Relations Mike Donnelly and attorney with ADF has said:
“As the district court found, Annie and Christer Johansson are good parents. It is unconscionable that the court of appeals–or any court in a democratic country like Sweden–could somehow think that it is in Dominic’s best interest to remain separated from his parents. The pain, suffering, and harm done to this family are incalculable.”
Alliance Defending Freedom and HSLDA are encouraging concerned people from all over the world to participate in an HSLDA-sponsored letter-writing campaign that asks the Supreme Court of Sweden to accept the case Johansson v. Gotland Social Services and return Domenic to his parents.
Please take a moment and help this family, and parental rights around the world. Here is how to contact that Supreme Court of Sweden.
Swedish Supreme Court (Högsta domstolen):
Email: hogsta.domstolen@dom.se
Mailing address: Högsta domstolen, Box 2066, 103 12 Stockholm, Sweden
A 1-oz letter from the US will cost $1.10 through the Postal Service
Fax: From outside Sweden: +46 8 561 666 86 If you fax from the U.S., you will need to replace the + sign with “011” and then dial 46 8 561 666 86 From inside Sweden: 08-561 666 86