Concerned Indians stand with Czech Republic in yet another Norway foster case
A cross-section of concerned Indians, including academics, writers, corporate executives, child rights workers and homemakers, have written to the Czech Ambassador in New Delhi expressing “appreciation and support” for the Czech Republic’s firm stand against Norway in a foster case involving two young boys of Czech origin.
Despite diplomatic intervention at the highest level, the Norwegian authorities refused to release the boys, even to their Czech grandparents and aunts and gave the younger boy away in adoption in Norway.
In response, the Czech President has cancelled his invitation to Norway for the anniversary celebrations at the Presidential Palace in Prague for the 1918 independence of Czechoslovakia, which is a major national event.
Praising the intervention of the Czech Republic as “humanitarian and child-friendly”, the signatories to letter, which was handed over in New Delhi yesterday to the Czech Embassy, say that they “are shocked to see the Norwegian authorities taking such brutal steps when the boys have grandparents and aunts in the Czech Republic…….We have had similar experiences of children of Indian parents in Norway being snatched by Barnevernet which refuses to release such children for repatriation to their extended family in India. There indeed appears to be a severe humanitarian crisis in countries like Norway with despotic and, often racist, Child Protection Authorities snatching children from parents on spurious grounds and denying them a relationship even with extended family members.”
The boys in the Czech case were removed by Barnevernet in 2011, then aged about 5 and 2 years, on suspicion of sexual abuse by the father. Barnevernet refused to release the boys even though the suspicion was not proven, and the police dropped the case. Though the entire case started with sexual abuse allegations against the father, he has been allowed to retain some parental rights over the elder boy (who remains in foster care), while the parental rights of the mother, Eva Michalakova, have been terminated. After the case against the father failed, the Barnevernet had turned its sights on the mother.
The signatories have also written to the Norwegian Ambassador in New Delhi expressing their “deep concern” in this case, saying that “Barnevernet can act harshly and unjustly”. Referring to the case of the Bhattacharya children who were taken into foster care in Norway, resulting in a major diplomatic row between Norway and India a few years ago, the letter says “We are happy to inform you that the children returned to India in the Bhattacharya case are thriving with their mother and grandparents here.”
Issued by: Suranya Aiyar
Co-ordinator of letters (attached) to Czech and Norwegian Ambassadors.
Contact: email:
mobile: 9818886808
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