Just a few points: This case has not gotten a lot of attention in Norwegian media. The only Norwegian news sources linked in this thread seem to be fringe sources, often with an axe to grind.

Here is the one article that I can find from the mainstream media:

http://mobil.nettavisen.no/?name=nettavisen&i=9805§ion_id=27&guid=3316927

The Norwegian Child Protection Services have a duty of complete confidentiality. They are not allowed to release any information on why a child is removed from its parents. They have however, issued a denial that any of the quotes matters weighed heavily on the decision. Also, they are not allowed to remove a child from its parents. They have to petition the Social Services for a warrant, which will only be given if the matter appears sufficiently serious. This particular case was appealed to the appeals authority, Fylkesmannen. She does get all the information, and came down quite heavily on the side of the social services.

So to summarize: No-one outsiode the parents and the authorities knows why this decision was made. But since the authorities cannot release that information, the other side is free to say anyting they like. However, every instance and individual with the full facts of the case have supported the child protection services desicion.

This does not neccessarily mean that the decision was correct. From reading about the case, the boy did seem to have som autistic-type self-harming traits that could easily have made red flags go up with social workers who have Baby Phttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/baby-p-the-official-files-1023092.html in fresh memory. But we don't know. We just know that everyone who does know, supports the CPS in this case.

Thank you for the link. According to the last article, the uncle is being appointed the children's guardian until they are 18 years old. Does that mean he is allowed to take the children back to India? The whole story boggles the mind.

Here's a link. It has a few more details on his taking custody.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/article2831465.ece

Anonymous wrote:I will usually sing the highest praises of Scandinavia, and I have family in Sweden.

But this is just so wrong, I don't know how it could go through, after being turned down by the court initially, and I don't know why India is not up in arms about it.

I hold Norway to a higher standard than this, clearly the children should be returned to their parents. But enough of the talk: OP, is there noone in the Indian community collecting signatures? Are there no Indian lawyers jumping on this case?

OP here: the Hindu-American foundation, based in DC, was the one big U.S.-based organization I've heard of so far that's taken up the cause. India is up in arms and the case has escalated to the highest levels of the Indian government. The children's maternal grandparents met with Indian President Pratibha Patel on 1/21 and she assured them she would work on getting the children released). I've pasted a link below to the story from Hindu-American Foundation's website. They met with the Norwegian ambassador to the U.S. and had a petition (now closed) that collected over 6,000 signatures. The part of the story I found very strange was that as of the day the story appeared on the foundation's website, the Norwegian Embassy was unable to confirm the agreement reached by India and Norway that would allow the children to be handed over to the children's paternal uncle. I've been searching for news coverage, and the only thing I can find it is that the father's brother left India last Wednesday (Feb. 1). There have been no reports that I can find on what has happened since, and when he will be able to take custody, if this is a legitimate agreement. I'm also surprised that, given the number of Indian-Americans who have weighed in, and the fact that these issues could easily affect Americans citizens abroad, that there has been no U.S. press coverage of the issue:

http://www.hafsite.org/HAF_encouraged_by_Norwegian_ambassador_meeting

Story from Indian Express about grandparents' meeting with Indian prez: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/president-assures-help-to-indian-couple-in-norway/902501/0

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, Mrs Early Assumption. I'm not talking about India. Why did you think I was?

Maybe because this entire thread is about an Indian family?

What country were you referring to then? Two posters asked and you did not respond. I'll guess you were just making shit up.

Keep guessing 8)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I will also add that some Indian kids' behavior is absolutely atrocious. Yes, some American kids also behave terribly, but Indians are by no mean, perfect. I am often horrified by how some of my nieces and nephews behave in public, and at home. Their parents seem to not care about discipline at all. And, especially with regards to sons - they seem to deserve some special treatment where they can get away with all sorts of bad behavior. Bedtime at my SILs house is always a nightmare for her. And, the kids are allowed to be disrespectful without consequence. Again, this is not ALL Indian kids - I for one, am trying my best not to raise my kids this way - but, there is a different approach to parenting.

And this justifies taking infant/toddler kids away from their parents?

No, of course not. But, I could possibly see where there's a situation if the kid is extremely misbehaving in the classroom - acting out by hitting/biting other kids that it would raise some concern. Just something to think about. If it's not normally accepted for kids to behave that way, then seeing a kid acting obnoxiously would certainly raise red flags.