Romanians Condemn Norway over Child Welfare Controversy

Over 62,000 people in Romania have signed a petition in recent days asking for a fast and fair solution in a sensitive case involving a Romanian-Norwegian family whose five children were taken into care by the Norwegian authorities because of alleged mistreatment. 

The petition, initiated by two well-known Romanian journalists, accuses the Norwegian authorities of "breaching human rights". 

The case, which involve Romanian IT engineer Marius Bodnariu, his Norwegian wife Ruth Johanne Bodnariu and their children, has sparked a protests in Romania. 

Thousands of people took to the streets over the weekend in Romania's major cities, as well as in other European and American cities, in support of the Bodnariu family.

The Romanian government has said that the country's ambassador in Norway will meet the Norwegian Minister of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion on Wednesday to discuss the situation. 

"We want to get a clearer picture of the case... Of course, we understand that Norway has strict laws in regard to child protection, and its institutions are working independently, but we also have the obligation to protect the interests of Romanian citizens," government spokesperson Dan Suciu said on Tuesday. 

"The Romanian government hopes for a rapid solution in this case, which will only take into consideration the children's best interests," Suciu added. 

In November, the Norwegian child protection service, Barnevernet, took the Bodnariu family's five children into care after receiving a complaint from the principal of the school that the elder children attended. 

Barnevernet has given no information about the reasons for its decision, but media reports said the parents allegedly abused...