Dad Gets Jail for Son’s Home Visit

A Swedish father has been jailed and is facing trial for removing his son from social services for a day-and-a-half visit with relatives. The young boy was “state-napped” by government officials in 2009 because his parents insisted on homeschooling him.

Christen Johansson and his son, Domenic, during a state-supervised visitation, July 2010 (Image: Friends of Dominic Johansson)

Domenic Johansson, son of Christer and Annie Johansson, made international news nearly two years ago when he was seized. Since that time, Domenic has remained in social services custody and his parents have only been able to see their son for one hour every five to six weeks. Their supposed crime? Choosing to home school Domenic and delaying certain immunizations.

On Nov. 22, Johansson’s father removed his son from social services and let local police know that they would be visiting with family at home, including Domenic‘s grandparents who hadn’t seen the boy in more than a year and a half. Shortly after the police were notified, authorities arrived at the home to once again remove Domenic from his parents’ custody and to arrest Christer Johansson on charges of “unlawful detention” or “heavy-handedness with a child.”

According to the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), a U.S.-based Christian legal alliance involved in the case, Swedish social services officials have also warned Domenic‘s mother that her visitation rights would be further limited if she didn’t stop crying during the short sessions.

ADF has teamed up with the Home School Legal Defense Association in fighting for the Johansson’s case to be appealed before the European Court of Human Rights. Swedish authorities will not allow the family to be represented within the country by outside counsel and have required to them accept a government-appointed public defender.

“The government shouldn’t abduct and imprison children simply because it doesn’t like homeschooling. That’s exactly what happened here,” said ADF Legal Counsel Roger Kiska, who is based in Europe. “Despite the ill-advised decision on the part of Mr. Johansson, the only menace here is a government drunk with its own power. This sad circumstance is what happens when an over-powerful government pushes a parent to the point of desperation, so social services should not pretend to be surprised.”

“The parents complied with everything expected of them, and yet the government has continued to keep their son under lock and key,” Kiska added. “Americans beware: This is coming to your doorstep if you are not vigilant about your government.”

“We will continue to defend the legal interests of this child and this family,” said Kiska. “Parents have the right and authority to make decisions regarding their children’s education without government interference, and that hasn’t changed.”

But Swedish officials insist there is more to the story. Gustaf Hofstedt, president of the local social services board said the case is about more than parents’ homeschooling rights, but reportedly refused to explain.

“I understand the public debate has been that is a case that is only concerning the fact of homeschooling,” he told WND. “But that is not the case.” When asked to explain, he responded, “I can’t answer that question because of secrecy.”

While Christer Johansson sits in jail waiting for his day in Swedish court, an organized online community, Friends of Domenic Johansson, is closely monitoring the case and a petition is circulating around the internet on his behalf.