“The LORD is righteous; he does no wrong.”
Romanian-Christian couple Daniel and Bianca Samson filed a lawsuit with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) after being separated from their two daughters for more than two years due to Swedish authorities’ claim that the “Christian parenting method” is extreme, even though there is no evidence of abuse. The human rights group, ADF International, pointed out that the incident reveals “serious concerns” about the Swedish child welfare system and shows delays, overreach and possible discrimination against Christians.
The incident began as a minor conflict. In 2022, when a daughter (then aged 10 and 11) asked their parents to buy a smartphone and makeup, but their parents refused, citing their age, and one of them falsely reported the abuse at school. The child later withdrew the claim, but Swedish authorities had already started taking measures. Based on the claim, authorities branded the parents as “religious extremists” and filed charges of child abuse. However, prosecutors found no evidence of wrongdoing and closed the investigation.
Nevertheless, the authorities continued to keep their two daughters in state custody, placing them in separate foster homes in different regions. Parents are only allowed one supervised visit a month. The children have since been moved through several foster placements, with one of them reportedly suffering physical and mental health issues and attempting suicide.
The parents completed a state-mandated parenting course, during which two therapists certified their competence. Authorities, however, did not reunite the family. In legal proceedings, Sweden’s state lawyer called the family “religious extremists,” citing their regular church attendance three times a week and their refusal to allow certain clothing or makeup.
The parents’ lawyers argue these are expressions of faith protected under international human rights law, citing Articles 8 (protect family life) and 9 (religious freedom) of the European Convention on Human Rights. Authorities reportedly confiscated the children’s religious materials, saying biblical audio stories were too violent. ADF International argues that the family’s treatment shows “an unmistakable element of religious discrimination.”
Daniel Samson said they turned to the Strasbourg-based court after every legal path in Sweden failed, including the Supreme Court’s decision not to hear their case in March 2025. The Samsons have also asked to have the children transferred to the foster system in Romania, but that request was denied. The couple has since returned to Romania while pursuing the European case. (Source: The Christian Post, Edited Version)
The LORD within her is righteous; he does no wrong. Morning by morning he dispenses his justice, and every new day he does not fail, yet the unrighteous know no shame. (Zephania 3:5)
God, we pray that You would rebuke the Swedish authorities who, without shame, have discriminated against Christianity and misused their power to separate families even after prosecutors found no evidence of child abuse. In this land where holy living is distorted and condemned as extremism, grant Your mercy so that the people may once again stand before the gospel, repent, and return to their first love. May they follow You, LORD, who are righteous and do no wrong, and be established as Your people, rejoicing and giving praise for the salvation revealed through the cross of Christ.
Prayer 24·365
prayer@prayer24365.org
