Swedish Couple Labeled “Religious Extremists” for Attending Church

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In the U.S., attending Church doesn’t seem like a huge deal. You either attend, or you don’t. In Sweden, however, a couple has been separated from their family for 4 years due to “religious extremism.” The culprit? Attending Church 3 times a week and refusing to allow their daughters to wear makeup.

As of 2022, Daniel and Bianca Samson were removed from their two eldest daughters' care. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rejected their appeal, as the removal was prompted by allegations from the oldest daughter. According to the Christian Post, she reported that her parents wouldn’t allow her or her sister to wear makeup or own a phone because of “religious extremism.”

Since this time, the eldest daughter has retracted her accusation, and authorities found no evidence that the sisters had been abused. However, the girls have still not been allowed to reunite with their families and are being held in separate foster homes. Presently, the girls are facing health issues and only see their parents once a month under strict supervision.

When the case was taken to the ECHR, the court indicated that the Samsons “Could take claims that their religious freedom has been violated to the Swedish courts. According to ADF, Swedish authorities have used the Samsons practice of attending church three times a week as evidence of “religious extremism.”

In the words of Guillermo A. Morales Sancho, legal counsel for ADF, “We deeply regret the court’s decision to reject this case, considering that this family has been torn apart for over three years despite a full investigation that cleared Mr. and Mrs. Samson of any abuse and the fact that the social services certified their capacity and fitness for parenting after they successfully completed an official training.”

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Amber Ginter is a teacher-turned-author who loves Jesus, her husband Ben, and granola. Growing up Amber looked for faith and mental health resources and found none. Today, she offers hope for young Christians struggling with mental illness that goes beyond simply reading your Bible and praying more. Because you can love Jesus and still suffer from anxiety. You can download her top faith and mental health resources for free to help navigate books, podcasts, videos, and influencers from a faith lens perspective. Visit her website at amberginter.com.