Demand for immediate release of American father, jailed in Japan, for reclaiming his kids

Petition Established for the Immediate Release of Christopher Savoie

Dear Mr. President and Congress:

When I first heard the story about Christopher Savoie, an American who has been jailed in Japan for child abduction after his effort to reclaim his children, I was heartbroken. I, who don't even have children of my own yet, find it appalling and absurd.

Christopher Savoie is an American who resides in Tennessee, and recently traveled to Japan to reclaim his children, who were taken from him by his Japanese ex-wife. The couple were divorced. The mother was granted the privilege of taking them on summer vacations but she was to return them to her father in. She took them to Japan and never returned. He sought and won full custody of his children and a warrant was issued for his ex-wife's arrest. But again, she was already safe and sound in Japan, or so it seems.

Japan claims that he is being held for child abduction and that American custody laws carry no weight in their country. Under that understanding, Mr. Savoie's act of reclaiming his children has been considered a crime and it is my view that the United States government has a duty to Mr. Savoie to step in and secure his immediate release as well as squash any and all possibility of punishing him. The true perpetrator in this case is the mother, who had no legal right to flee the United States with Mr. Savoie's children, especially to a country that seemingly does not recognize a father's right and desire to be with his children, or else they would not have incarcerated him for trying to get his children back.

Again, the United States has a duty to Mr. Savoie to do everything in its power to reunite him with his children and eliminate all possibility of his being punished for looking out for their welfare.

We live in a time where child neglect is a serious issue. There are many children in all parts of the U.S. that are not granted their due love and support. Here is a father who could not bare the notion of never seeing his children again and he is being punished for trying to get them back? It is reprehensible.

The story is a sad and frustrating one and has touched me enough to move me to reach out to our governmental leadership for help in the matter. There must be something our government can do to alleviate Mr. Savoie's plight and reunite him with his children. If there's anyone to be held for wrong-doing, it should be his ex-wife. After all, she was the one who illegally fled to Japan with the children, when she knew she had to return them to their father. He had to find out they were missing through a call from their school inquiring about their absence. What kinda crap is that?

In the spirit of this story, I have established a petition on change.org that seeks to raise support for Mr. Savoie and that denounces the acts of the Japanese government, ally or not, and seeks to free Mr. Christopher Savoie and protect him from any and all legal prosecution for his actions, which should not be regarded as criminal but naturally instinctive.

Thank you.

[Your name]