Christian Couple’s Custody Battle in Sweden Faces Major Setback
A Christian couple’s lengthy struggle to regain custody of their daughters from Swedish authorities hit a significant hurdle recently when Europe’s top court declined to assist them.
On March 10, the European Court of Human Rights decided that the appeal from Daniel and Bianca Samson was “inadmissible,” indicating that the final ruling cannot be contested. Their children have been in state custody since December 2022, a situation that has obviously taken a toll on the family.
The trouble began when their eldest daughter, Sarah, then 11, made a false claim of abuse at her school following a dispute with her parents regarding smartphone ownership and makeup restrictions. Although she recanted her statement and there was no evidence to support the claim, Swedish authorities have refused to return the children to their parents.
The state’s reasoning for keeping the kids includes the family’s frequent church attendance and their chosen parenting methods, which they label as “religious extremism,” according to the legal organization assisting the Samsoms.
ADF International reported that the girls have expressed a strong desire to reunite with their family, and concerningly, their mental and physical health is declining. Unfortunately, both have reportedly attempted suicide while in custody.
Despite completing required parenting courses and being deemed fit, the parents have not yet been able to bring their daughters home. It’s also alleged that there was an attempt to transfer the children to a foster home in Romania, but that request was denied as well.
Even though Sweden’s Supreme Court refused to take up their case in 2025, the European Court maintained that the case was inadmissible because they hadn’t exhausted all legal avenues in Sweden.
Daniel Samson expressed deep concern, stating, “We love our children. We trusted that Sweden would protect them and expected our daughters to come home once the truth came out.” He added that their mental well-being continues to decline as they remain apart.
There are reports that local social services are now moving toward permanently severing family ties and may contemplate putting the daughters up for adoption. Guillermo A. Morales Sancho, legal counsel for ADF International, lamented the ruling, emphasizing that families should have the freedom to practice their beliefs without fear of losing their children.
At the moment, it seems the Swedish social welfare agency has yet to officially respond to inquiries. Meanwhile, the European Court of Human Rights has stated that they consider cases individually and don’t provide comments on broader issues unless necessary.
