TV4 has previously told how the Swedish Migration Agency decided to deport nine-year-old Lisa to an orphanage in Albania, even though the family home has custody of her.
In an attempt to stop the deportation, the family applied to adopt Lisa – which the appeals court now rejects.
Born in Sweden
Nine-year-old Lisa was born in Sweden and has lived in the same family home, with the Backström family in Lidköping, for five years. She was only one year old when she came to the family for the first time.
“Like the district court, the Court of Appeal comes to the conclusion that an adoption is not in the best interest of the child. An adoption constitutes a permanent dissolution of a child’s legal ties to his biological parent. If there are prerequisites for a permanent relationship between the child and the biological parent that has the character of a parentage, an adoption as a general rule should not be granted,” writes the Court of Appeal in the decision.
– What the Court of Appeal had to consider is whether an adoption is suitable, not whether the girl should be deported or not. That question is not decided by the Court of Appeal, says Court of Appeal lawyer Linda Hallstedt in a press release.
“Getting really scared”
Paulina Backström, who has had custody of Lisa, regrets the decision.
– I think it’s very strange. It is with us that she has lived – Longer than with her biological mother, says Paulina Backström.
– That was not the answer we wanted.
The family now wants to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.
– We are shocked by this decision. It’s very difficult to take it one more time, but it’s obvious that we do it because we still think it’s the wrong decision.
– We don’t believe in this society at all anymore. I am really afraid of how such decisions can be made. I’m completely losing faith, I must say, continues Paulina Backström.