Swedish woman gives birth in Sweden prevents her child from going to America?

Question

Is it ethical for a Swedish woman, who is a naturalized US Citizen who is living in the USA, who got pregnant with an American man, to make sure that her child is born on Swedish soil, and than get a Swedish court order baring her child from leaving Sweden, because she want her child to grow up in Sweden not America. This would prevent a US court from having jurisdiction over child custody (for same reason as Ann Nicole Smith case). She wants her child to have double US/Swedish nationality, but does not want her child exposed to American culture/lifestyle. She also wants to remain a double US/Swedish nationality. She also prevents the American father from having contact with his child, because it is her legal right under Swedish law. She believes that a father who is not a Swedish national is an unfit parented by default.

Answer 1

Ethical?  No way!

Legal?  I don't know.

Isn't the child automatically a US citizen by way of the father being a US citizen?  There has to be some way for the father to fight for rights, regardless of where the mother and child are residing.  This sounds like a Lifetime movie I watched years ago with the plot set in the middle East and the father taking the half-American child there.  It was based on a real story and it was very difficult for the mother to get the child back.  I'd guess even more difficult for a father to get custody rights.

Good luck to the father (you?)!

Answer 2

Is this ethical? Absolutely not!

It is completely ridiculous in more ways than one. There must be more to this story though, because a Swedish court would not stop a child from leaving a country without solid grounds. It just wouldn't happen.

Answer 3

Is it ethical......well probably no. Is there much more to this story than you are sharing.......well probably yes. Why would she choose to have an American father her child if she believes that a father who is not a Swedish national is an unfit parent? Sounds like one of you is a bit unstable.

Answer 4

Gertie, you are probably recalling "Not Without My Daughter" and the child was born in America as a US Citizen; dad was Iranian and political.   Asker, you don't mention if the Swedish woman was legally married to the American or give details on conflict so he might lose custody in America as well.  Frankly, being raised as a Swede with dual citizenship could be in the best interest of the child as when he attains his majority, he can choose his country of residence.  Most of my closest friends are Swedish or Norwegian immigrants brought to US by parents and are a real credit to their new country because they are able to make an educated choice to remain.  Your friend made a difficult but wise choice for her child.