Supporters of Daniel and Bianca Samson rallied outside the Swedish Embassy in Washington, D.C., on Friday, bringing their custody battle over two daughters seized by Swedish authorities to the U.S. capital.
The couple, who are Romanian citizens, have been separated from their daughters, Sara and Tiana, since December 2022. The case began when Sara, then 11, made a false allegation of abuse against her parents following an argument about makeup and smartphone use. Although Sara reportedly recanted the claim, Swedish social services removed both daughters from the family home.
Despite prosecutors finding no evidence of abuse, Swedish authorities have refused to return the girls, citing the family's religious practices, including attending church three times a week, and their media consumption as indicative of "religious extremism." Daniel Samson stated in court that officials used the "religious extremist" label to justify the separation and that parenting choices, such as not allowing nail polish, the absence of a television, and the reading of Bible stories, were presented as evidence against them.
The case has drawn international attention, with the Romanian government supporting the family. Romanian Senator Titus Corlatean and Chicago Pastor Cristian Ionescu spoke at the rally. Similar demonstrations are planned in other global cities, including Brisbane, Stockholm, London, and Copenhagen.
Pastor Ionescu, president of the Romanian Pentecostal Churches' Union in the United States, expressed concern about the rise of socialist ideologies in the U.S., drawing parallels to his experiences fleeing communism in Romania. He stated that while Romanian authorities did not confiscate children, they attempted to instill a worldview contrary to Christian values, persecuting parents who did not comply.
In June, the Romanian Senate unanimously approved a declaration urging Sweden to return the Samson girls. Senator Corlatean has accused Sweden of ignoring these demands and violating diplomatic relations and international law, emphasizing that the girls are Romanian citizens.
The family reports that the daughters have attempted suicide multiple times while in state custody, and the elder daughter has been placed in an adult psychiatric facility. Corlatean noted that the girls continuously ask to return to their parents and Romania, but social services allegedly inform them otherwise.
Daniel Samson also stated that the Swedish government has completely barred the family from seeing their daughters and has indicated an intent to change their names, which he fears may be a precursor to forced adoption. The family has lost 14 court cases in Sweden, and their final appeal to the European Court of Human Rights was deemed inadmissible.
Senator Corlatean hopes for U.S. support, citing a precedent from 2015 when American officials and the State Department exerted pressure in the case of the Bodnarius, a Romanian-Norwegian family whose children were placed in foster care in Norway. He believes U.S. involvement was helpful in that instance.
The Swedish Embassy stated it cannot comment on individual cases, emphasizing Sweden's commitment to constitutional rights and freedoms for all individuals, regardless of background. They also noted that Swedish social services employ specialized professionals to ensure children grow up in safe environments. The embassy affirmed the strong relations between Sweden and Romania as NATO Allies and EU Member States.