Norwegian woman seeks asylum in Poland: report

Poland’s Nasz Dziennik daily reported on Tuesday that several other people were soon to “apply for protection” by the Polish authorities from Norway’s powerful Barnevernet child welfare service.

The woman who has requested asylum in Poland, Silje Garmo, has already had her older daughter, now 12 years old, taken away by the Norwegian authorities, Nasz Dziennik reported.

The mother faced claims that she overused pain killers, and was accused of leading a "chaotic lifestyle" and suffering chronic fatigue, the Polish paper said.

But Garmo managed to escape from a special centre for young mothers and come to Poland, the paper added.

During her second pregnancy, the Barnevernet constantly monitored the results of Garmo’s medical tests looking for evidence of addiction to drugs, but no such evidence was found, according to reports.

The paper added: "Most of the Barnevernet’s interventions involve poor people, from lower social classes and immigrants. But Garmo is educated, wealthy, well-versed in the law.”

The BBC reported last year that the case of a couple in Norway whose five children were taken away by officials had prompted rising concerns in the country and abroad over its child protection practices.

(pk)

Source: Nasz Dziennik/PAP