Update on Johansson Family

I have written a few posts about this family in Sweden who unlawfully had their child removed from them while on a plane relocating to India where one of the parents is from and where they would be homeschooling. It has been going on for over a year now and they have not gotten their son back. It has been a very emotional year for them and as you can imagine, the stress must be unbearable at times. They are only allowed very short visits and not very often, so this just breaks my heart. Recently, the dad was put in jail for taking his son home for a one night visit that was not approved.

As he awaits in jail, he needs encouragement that we are praying for them and speaking out for him. Please have your children help you write notes of encouragement to him. They need us and we can send a message to the Swedish government. By them seeing the sheer number of supporters, they will know that the world is watching.

The Homeschooling Legal Defense Association has been trying to help them. Here is a post they recently put up with the address that you can send your cards. Please, please, take the time.

I have also been on an mailing list for updates and the supporters of this family are asking for emails and written letters to be sent to the judge. I am including in this post the email address and mailing address to the judge and the Swedish text for you to send to him. I will also show you the translation, but please do not send that. Only the Swedish text is necessary. Please do it as soon as you can, today in fact! Time is of the essence! The court date is the 20th of December.

The email is

gotlands.tingsratt@dom.se

The Swedish text is:

Till Lagman Mikael Mellqvist

Jag är mycket oroad över hur svenska myndigheter och domstolar har behandlat Christer Johansson och över LVU- omhändertagandet av hans son Domenic Johansson.
När Christer måndagen den 22 november 2010 tog med sig Domenic gjorde han en överilad handling.
Han är en kärleksfull far som inte längre kunde stå emot sin längtan efter sonen Domenic, som han bara har fått träffa 1 timme var femte vecka och då alltid övervakad av någon myndighetsperson.
Christer är ingen brottsling, men han har levt under oerhörd psykisk press och stress sedan 1,5 år tillbaka när de sociala myndigheterna beslöt att på ytterst tveksamma grunder tvångsomhänderta hans barn.
Jag vädjar till Er att låta Christer Johansson slippa straff och att ni respekterar de mänskliga rättigheterna som stadgas i Europakonventionen.

Vänligen, ________________________________

Please sign your name and the country you are from. You can also mail this to :

Lagman Mikael Mellqvist
Gotlands tingsrätt
Box 1143
SE-621 22 Visby
SWEDEN

The translation is as follows:

To Judge Mikael Mellqvist

I am extremely worried about how the Swedish authorities and courts are treating Christer Johansson and the circumstances of the forceful abduction of his son Domenic by Gotland Social Services.
When Christer decided to bring his son home on Monday 22 November 2010 it was the action of a man who had been driven to desperation.
Christer is a loving father who could no longer bear to be apart from his only son Domenic. A son who he had only been able to see for 1 hour every five weeks and then always under close supervision by authorities.
Christer Johansson is not a criminal but he has had to endure huge psychological stress and pressure for the past one and a half years,
ever since the Social Services took away his son on the weakest of pretexts.
I entreat you to please respect Christer Johansson's Human Rights in accordance with the European Convention on Human Rights. Please ensure that justice is served and that Christer Johansson is released without further punishment.

Kindly,

This is the HSLDA post for writing the father and encouraging him.

Urgent Action Needed: Send Cards to Johansson Family in Sweden

Christer Johansson, whose 9-year-old son Domenic Johansson has been in state custody since June 2009, remains in prison for taking Domenic home for a short but “unapproved” overnight visit last week.

Authorities are holding Christer on “suspicion of unlawful detention” and, alternatively, “heavy-handedness with a child.” Under Swedish law, both charges are punishable with one to 10 years in prison.
In a new development, Swedish officials have denied Christer Johansson the attorney of his choosing. Shortly after his arrest, Christer requested that noted human rights attorney Tryggve Emstedt of Gävle, Sweden represent him. Emstedt’s colleague, human rights attorney Ruby Harrold-Claesson, reports, “The court informed me [yesterday] that Christer’s request...had been rejected.” The Swedish courts previously removed Harrold-Claesson from the Johanssons’ case on questionable grounds. (See “Sweden Denies Due Process to Family.”)

HSLDA has learned that Christer’s court date has been set for December 20. “We are asking families in the U.S. and across the globe to remember this family during the Christmas season,” says Michael Donnelly, HSLDA’s director of international relations. “Please lift them up in prayer and consider sending a note of encouragement.” Mail to Mr. Johansson would encourage him and remind Swedish authorities that families and homeschoolers around the world are paying close attention to this situation.

Please send a Christmas card or a short note of encouragement to Christer at:

Christer Johansson
Kriminalvården
Box 1268
621 23 VISBY
Sweden