Christian couple have daughters seized by state and are branded 'religious extremists' for going to church

A Christian couple who were branded "religious extremists" for going to church, and had their daughters taken by the state, are pleading around the world for help.

Romanian pair Daniel and Bianca Samson, whose daughters were removed from their home by Swedish authorities more than three years ago, staged a protest in Washington DC on Friday.

The Samsons gathered with supporters outside the Swedish Embassy to demand the return of their children, Sara and Tiana.

The girls were taken from their family home by authorities in December 2022.

Romanian Americans joined the demonstration to show solidarity with the parents.

The Washington protest was part of an international outcry, with similar rallies planned in Brisbane, Stockholm, London and Copenhagen.

Romanian Senator Titus Corlatean and Chicago-based pastor Cristian Ionescu both travelled to speak at the DC event.

The dispute began when Sara, just 11 at the time, made a false accusation of abuse against her parents after an argument about wearing makeup and owning a smartphone.

Sara quickly admitted she had lied, but Swedish social services still took both children from the home.

Prosecutors found no evidence that the alleged abuse had actually taken place.

Despite this, authorities refused to return the girls to their parents.

Officials cited the family's practice of attending church three times weekly as evidence of "religious extremism."

Mr Samson said in court that lawyers used their parenting decisions against them - including not allowing nail painting, having no television, and reading Bible stories.

Authorities described the Bible stories as "violent," the devastated father said.

The Romanian Senate unanimously approved a declaration in June demanding Sweden immediately return the girls to their family.

Senator Corlatean, who proposed the measure, said Sweden has ignored their demands.

"There was no reciprocity in this relationship, no positive answer. It was a simulation of cooperation," Mr Corlatean told Fox News.

He accused Sweden of breaching international law and damaging diplomatic relations between the two countries.

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The girls hold Romanian citizenship, not Swedish.

"They are not Swedish citizens, so Sweden is keeping [the girls] abusively in their custody against the will of the state of citizenship of our own citizens," the Senator added.

The separation has severely affected both children - Mr Samson says his daughters have attempted suicide six or seven times whilst in state custody.

His eldest daughter has since been placed in an adult psychiatric facility.

"It's horrible, and it's a desperate situation," Mr Corlatean said.

He added that the girls keep asking to be reunited with to their parents and Romania, but social services falsely claim the daughters refuse to go back.

Swedish authorities have now completely barred the family from seeing the girls and have even hinted at plans to change their names.

But Mr Samson fears this means his beloved girls will face forced adoption.

The family has lost 14 court cases in Sweden over the last three years.

Their final appeal failed in March when the European Court of Human Rights ruled the case inadmissible.

In a statement, the Swedish Embassy added: "Sweden greatly values its excellent relations with Romania, including as NATO Allies and EU Member States.

"In Sweden, everyone has the same constitutional rights and freedoms, regardless of 'race, skin colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status' as is stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

"Swedish social services employ social workers with specialized knowledge about children’s needs. The social welfare committee in the municipality where the child resides is responsible for ensuring that children grow up in a safe environment."

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