In a revealing and technically challenging interview aired on October 14, 2025, by BrokenTruth.TV, Norwegian parents Monica Drexel and Petter Gunnerad shared their harrowing ordeal following the abduction of their daughters, Iris (age 4 at the time) and Saga (age 8), by Norway’s child welfare agency, Barnevernet, on March 5, 2024. Hosted by John Davidson and co-hosted by investigative journalist Christine Dolan, the discussion exposed allegations of systemic overreach, lack of due process, and what the parents describe as state-sponsored human trafficking. The family, legally homeschooling their children, has had minimal contact with their daughters since—none for a full year, followed by supervised visits of just two hours every second month.
The interview, hampered by international connection glitches, nonetheless painted a stark picture of a family torn apart. According to Gunnerad, the incident began during a family holiday in northern Norway when a neighbor spotted the children playing in the snow during school hours and reported it to authorities. Barnevernet, often criticized for emergency removals without thorough investigations, acted swiftly, citing the parents’ failure to send the children to public school despite their approved homeschooling status.
”We were homeschooling and everything was supposed to be okay,” Gunnerad explained. “But these different departments... don’t talk with each other.” Homeschooling is legal in Norway but rare, with only about 300 families registered nationwide. The parents’ setup was inspected by teachers, yet internal miscommunication led to the raid.
A Decade of Harassment
Drexel and Gunnerad detailed a decade-long history of scrutiny from Barnevernet, starting from the birth of their first child in 2015. What began with concerns over a home birth—where an ambulance was called for comfort, but the driver allegedly resented the request—escalated into repeated investigations for minor issues like a “messy house,” despite no evidence of abuse or criminal history.
Drexel, midway through medical school, was forced to abandon her studies due to relentless unannounced visits—up to three times a day, intruding into bedrooms and bathrooms. “They just keep on going until you break down,” she said. “You cannot continue work; you cannot continue your education.” Investigations recycled old claims, amassing thousands of pages of unsubstantiated reports to overwhelm courts.
See the Iris and Saga’s abduction video here:
The parents allege financial motivations, with foster families receiving $6,000–$7,000 per month per child on average, and up to $3,000 per day for high-needs cases. “It’s basically a human trafficking service,” Gunnerad asserted, estimating the system siphons taxpayer funds while employing hundreds of thousands. Their daughters are held in undisclosed foster homes, possibly drugged, and visits are policed with threats—e.g., asking about a foster dog’s breed halted a meeting, with police on standby.
Access to medical records is denied; Drexel sees no trace of her daughters in Norway’s digital health system. Court documents reveal frequent shuttling to doctors, psychologists, and psychiatrists. The youngest, Iris, appears unrecognizable, with Drexel describing reunions as “theater” where emotions are suppressed.
Echoes of International Criticism
This case mirrors broader criticisms of Barnevernet, condemned by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in over a dozen cases since 2015 for violating Article 8 (right to family life). High-profile incidents, like the Bodnariu family (Romanian Pentecostal) and the Indian case dramatized in Netflix’s Mrs. Chatterjee vs. Norway, highlight targeting of non-conforming families.
Gunnerad linked escalation to a 2007 “Christopher case,” where a child’s death fueled media paranoia, spiking removals to nearly 2,000 annually by 2018. Official stats stopped in 2018; estimates suggest 10,000–50,000 children in care. The parents accuse the system of state indoctrination, prioritizing conformity over independence—homeschoolers threaten this by fostering critical thinking.
Journalistic coverage is stifled. Gunnerad recounted threats against reporter Katrina Haugen, who vanished after probing Barnevernet, allegedly targeted via her sister’s children. Davidson referenced Kenneth Skylands’ lawsuit over coerced abuse claims.
Court Battle Looms
A pivotal seven-day hearing starts October 20, 2025, in Arendal Tingrett. Demands for public access, recordings, and child representation are denied, with appeals to the Supreme Court pending. “They refuse because it makes it hard to lie,” Gunnerad said. State-paid lawyers fear reprisals; one whispered threats to her own family for citing laws.The parents invoke the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and ECtHR precedents, but Norway ignores rulings. “The government does not abide by any law,” Gunnerad claimed. Norwegian families rarely regain children; international cases succeed due to global outcry.
Dolan and Davidson called it “predatory,” urging an investigation into budgets and employee numbers. “This harms children in their formative years,” she said.
Call to Action
As ECtHR condemns persist, Drexel and Gunnerad’s fight underscores reform needs. “We are challenging every point of this system,” Gunnerad said. Watch the interview on BrokenTruth.TV and share to amplify their voice. Contact Norwegian media or international watchdogs—pressure can return these girls home.Support the family: [Donation link or petition if available]. Follow updates on BrokenTruth.TV.
Related Reading:
BrokenTruth.TV is committed to exposing institutional abuses. Subscribe for more.
