We are a mother and a father, and for Ten months now we have been living every single day with an unbearable void — the absence of our five‑year‑old son.

Everything changed on December 31, 2024, when social services removed him from his grandmother’s care, giving us no time, not even a moment, to say goodbye. That day will remain forever engraved in our hearts.

He was crying, grabbing his grandmother’s feet, and did not want to leave. In the car, he cried with his eyes out and slammed on the back car window. I was not even given the chance to hug him goodbye or tell him I love him for the last time. That moment haunts me every day.

We were told to take our son ourselves because they said they feared I might leave for Malta — a claim that made no sense, yet it was enough to turn our family’s life upside down. From that moment, everything became a battle to prove our love, our innocence, and our truth.

Three days after Lohan was removed, ASE began claiming he had performed inappropriate gestures — behavior he has never displayed. If this had been true, his teachers would have noticed, but they never did. We fear that something may have been done to him during the removal or placement, and then false accusations were placed on us to justify keeping him away and eliminating our visitation. Can a system really allow something so inhumane to happen to a child and his parents?

We were accused of “lack of school attendance,” even though he missed only one week of school the entire year — due to illness. We were also accused of “lack of medical follow‑up,” even though we have three pages full of medical appointments proving how attentive and caring we have always been as parents.

Before the placement, two social workers met with us only three times — for about ten minutes each time. Their reports contained serious inaccuracies and statements that we were able to disprove with solid evidence. A psychological report later labeled us as “toxic parents,” even though the psychologist never even met us.

Meanwhile, we have hundreds of photos and videos showing a happy, smiling, and well‑cared‑for child. But none of this was taken into account. Neither the voices of our extended family, nor those of our loved ones, were ever truly heard.

We have not seen our son once since the day he was taken away. That is perhaps the hardest pain of all.

Six days before we were to receive the decision from the September 1st Court of Appeal, we were suddenly taken into police custody for 36 hours. The accusations that followed were so implausible and shocking that they felt unreal — as if taken from a movie. During this custody period, a backdated certificate suddenly appeared — a document that had never been presented before, not even during the children’s judge hearing in April 2025.

Now, after nine months, even more false accusations are being thrown at us — including things so serious and cruel that they defy logic. If such things were true, why were they never mentioned when our son was first taken? Why did they only appear after we appealed? Why are reports being written by doctors and psychologists who have never even met us?

There are so many unanswered questions. And so much injustice.

Since then, the situation has escalated.

We now live under the threat of criminal prosecution — not because we ever harmed our child, but because we dared to defend ourselves and stand for our family.

We have already changed lawyers three times in the child protection and civil procedures before finally finding one who truly listens and is committed to defending us. This long fight has affected every part of our lives. It has broken us emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. I cannot live normally anymore. My family and my adult children in Malta are also suffering deeply from this separation and from the silence forced on us.

We have also learned alarming numbers directly from social workers.

In the small city of Vichy, with around 30,000 inhabitants, nearly 500 children are currently placed. Each social worker follows more than 40 children at once. How can the best interests of children be respected under such impossible conditions? These systemic failures lead to mistakes, tragedies, and broken families — including ours.

We live about 30 km from Vichy and are under the responsibility of those same services.

Through all of this, our dignity remains intact.

Our hope remains unshaken.

But the truth is urgent — these false accusations and procedures could have devastating consequences if we are not properly defended.

That is why we have decided to speak publicly — not out of despair, but out of love and the will to protect our son’s future.

Our son turned six on November 19. He has not been allowed to see or touch his parents since December. Imagine what he must think — that his parents abandoned him, that he is not loved. The trauma this child is living, believing his parents have disappeared, is unimaginable. And so is the trauma we live through every single day without him.

Even on his birthday, we were forced to stay far away and endure the pain silently. When I asked about his health, what he likes, or what they planned for his birthday, no answer was given. I had to follow up again, and we only received a reply after his birthday had passed. How can a mother and father feel, for the first time, so far from their child? We could not plan anything to make him happy. Soon it will be Christmas, and still, there is no information or contact, all because of false accusations.

The juvenile court and the system handling our case have shown a coldness that is hard to describe. Even when we provided clear evidence and documentation, it was ignored. Reports full of lies were accepted without question. We are witnessing corruption, manipulation, and abuse of power — and no one seems to stop it.

Social workers even claim that our six‑year‑old “does not want to see us.” But how can that be, when we have countless photos, videos, of our son filled with love, laughter, and joy with us? How can a child that age suddenly express adult‑like accusations or statements he could never have understood? It is clear to us that he is being influenced, confused, and emotionally manipulated.

This is not just a legal issue — it’s a human rights violation.

A child’s right to family, love, and truth has been stolen.

And parents’ right to defend themselves and be heard has been crushed.

We are a Maltese mother and a French father, and we will not stop until our son is home. We are asking for awareness, for truth, and for justice.

Please, help us share our story. Help us give a voice to Lohan, a little boy who deserves to be with his family, surrounded by love — not lies.

With all our hope and faith,

Two parents fighting for their son