Over the past few days, several articles have reported this story about an Indian family living in Norway whose children were placed in foster care, sparking accusations of racial and cultural prejudice.
According to The Telegraph article that was published today, Norway has accused the parents of over-feeding their children and allowing them to co-sleep. Norweigan social workers also claim the children’s mother suffers from depression,
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[Photo by Alamy] According to the children’s grandparents, the allegations that led to the removal of the children are culturally-accepted ways of child-rearing in their culture, where it is common practice for mothers to “push food into their toddler’s mouths” and where “children often sleep in their parents’ bed until they are six or seven.”
In The Telegraph, the head of the Child Welfare Services is quoted as saying, “I most strongly deny that this case in any way is based on cultural prejudice or misinterpretation. I am unable to give any comments regarding the particular grounds in this case because of our duty of confidentiality.”
According to the article, Norwegian officials have determined the children will remain in foster care in Norway until they are 18 years old. The family is pushing for the children to be cared for by their grandparents, but according to the article, Indian officials are getting involved.
Read the article in full here.
Another article on this story: Reunite Indian Kids with Parents, Delhi Urges Oslo