The daughters of a Swedish Christian family at the centre of a religious freedom battle could be put up for adoption, according to the organisation Alliance Defending Freedom.
Daniel and Bianca Samson have been seperated from their daughters for three years, after the eldest complained to teachers that her conservative Christian parents wouldn't let her wear makeup or have a mobile phone.
Social services stated that the Samsons’ regular attendance at church three times a week would corroborate the “religious extremism” accusations. The girls were taken into care in December 2022.
The daughter later retracted her complaint against her parents, insisting that she wanted to remain with her family. However, the girls have not been allowed to return home.
The Alliance Defending Freedom International, which has championed the family’s case, says they now risk having all contact with their parents cut.
“Unfortunately, we received a communication from the social services in the community of Hasselholm,” said legal counsel Guillermo A. Morales Sancho. “What they want is the total restriction of contact with the parents, with the idea of putting the girls into adoptions in the future.”
He described the situation as “really sad,” adding that the daughters’ mental health has suffered immensely. ADF said child who made the original complaint has been suffering with depression and “constant pain” over its consequences, and has been at risk of potential self-harm.
ADF have asked Christians around the world to pray for the family.