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Protest held in support of Romanian-Norwegian family

Many Abbotsford residents attend demonstration in Vancouver
989abbotsfordProtestorsinVancouver
About 500 demonstrators

Several people from Abbotsford were among 500 demonstrators attending a peaceful protest on Feb. 8 in Vancouver in support of a Romanian-Norwegian family.

The local residents were part of Bethel Romanian Church of Abbotsford, and they joined with the Romanian community of Vancouver. They protested in front of the Royal Norwegian Consulate General.

The purpose of the protest was to stand in solidarity with Marius and Ruth Bodnariu, who have five children, including a three-month-old baby.

The protestors say the children were removed from the family by child protection services in Norway last November, without any notice, because of their parents’ Christian beliefs.

The demonstrators oppose the decision and process in dealing with this family in particular, as well as with many other families who they say have been traumatized by similar circumstances.

The protest follows events organized worldwide in other locations, including Romania, Spain, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Russia, the U.S. and Australia.

An online petition has almost 60,000 signatures and can be found online at ipetitions.com/petition/christian-family-persecuted.