BiH Embassy in Sweden: We Heard About Deportation of Boy Raif from the Media, We Received No Request for Help from the Family

(Patria) - The Embassy of BiH in the Kingdom of Sweden stated today that it was informed about the case of the minor boy Raif Terzić (4) with autism, who was deported by Swedish authorities to BiH, exclusively through media reports.

Until the moment the mentioned information was published in the media, the Embassy says they had not received any official request for help from the family, nor for any consular or other services.

Consequently, the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Stockholm did not undertake any activities, and there was no formal basis or request from the party.

"We note that the Embassy of BiH has no influence on the migration policy of the Kingdom of Sweden, nor on the decisions of Swedish competent authorities regarding residence, return or citizenship.

Nevertheless, the Embassy remains ready, within its powers, to provide assistance and information to all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the protection of their rights and interests, if a corresponding request is submitted.

We also emphasize that children born in the Kingdom of Sweden, whose parents were not Swedish citizens at the time of birth, do not automatically acquire citizenship of the Kingdom of Sweden by birth on its territory.

According to the information available to the Embassy, which is available from media sources, the parents of the minor Raif Terzić acquired Swedish citizenship after his birth.

Given that the boy was not registered in the birth and citizenship registers of Bosnia and Herzegovina in a timely manner, which is a prerequisite for further procedures related to regulating citizenship status, a legal vacuum occurred which, according to available information, led to the current situation.

Bearing the above in mind, the protection of the rights and interests of children born in the Kingdom of Sweden is best achieved through the timely registration of birth in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the regulation of the status of a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

We particularly emphasize that the Kingdom of Sweden is one of only three countries with which Bosnia and Herzegovina has concluded a Dual Citizenship Agreement, along with the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Croatia, which further facilitates and enables the timely regulation of the citizenship status of children born in Sweden.

Registration of children's births can be done through the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Stockholm, as well as in person or by proxy directly at the competent municipal registry office in Bosnia and Herzegovina," stated the Embassy of BiH in the Kingdom of Sweden.