In 2010, the Swedish parliament introduced a new law which banned home education for all practical purposes. Home education is a fundamental right that all parents have, as it is articulated by art. 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that states: “Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.”

The harsh treatment of homeschooling families by the Swedish government has shocked parents all over the world. On 25 June 2009 armed police, at the behest of Swedish Social Services, boarded an airliner on its way to India from Sweden with the Johansson family and seized their 7 year-old boy, Domenic, for being homeschooled (which at that time was still legal in Sweden). There was no warrant; the Johanssons had broken no law. Since this date Domenic’s parents are only allowed short, 1 hour-long supervised visit once every five weeks. Domenic still remains in state custody. The father of Domenic has announced on 5 Oct. 2011 that he has received letters from the court informing him that the social workers wish to move custody to the foster family. If the court grants the wishes of the social workers, this act would be equivalent to legalised child abduction.

The Swedish embassy will agree that the infringement of basic human rights and arbitrary removal of custody by social workers is not acceptable. During the period of apartheid, home education was illegal in South Africa. The parents Andre and Bokkie Meintjies were jailed in 1994, and their children were placed in an orphanage, because they educated their children at home. However a few years later the Nelson Mandela government legalised home education in South Africa with the publication of the South African School Act in 1996. Since it was legalised, homeschooling has grown exponentially in South Africa, and tens of thousands of children have enjoyed the benefits of home education.

South African parents would like Swedish parents to have the same parental freedoms as South African parents, so that Swedish children may also enjoy the same proven benefits of home education as South African homeschooled children.

The Association for Homeschooling has requested the Swedish Embassy to convey the message to the Swedish government that South African parents wish for the reunification of the Johannsen family, as well as the recognition of the rights of Swedish parents to choose the kind of education that should be given to their children. We request that the Swedish Embassy personally conveys this message to the Swedish prime minister, the minister of Foreign Affairs and the minister of Education and Research.