The child's parents believed in an alternative lifestyle but the mom's family and friends said that she was a great mother.
It is likely that most moms know what their children need. When others interfere or try to tell parents what is best for their kids, it can only be an irritant for them. However, in a shocking turn of events, a couple of police officers went a step ahead and separated a breastfeeding mom from her baby without giving her any reason.
The 8-month-old "gumnut" or a "bush" baby was removed from his family, who are believed to be living in bushland near Byron Bay, reported 7 News. The dramatic moment was captured on camera. The video, in which New South Wales police officers and Family and Community Services officials were speaking to the mom, was posted on social media.
The authorities initially told her that she should give them her baby before they forcibly took him away from her. "This is not right. This is my baby," the topless mom told the authorities. "This is against human rights. Don’t do this to him," she added.
The mother, who had adopted an "outdoor lifestyle," wanted to raise her baby away from "harmful chemicals and toxins," reported Daily Mail. Despite the unorthodox lifestyle she adopted, her family and friends said that she is a "great mother... doing what she thinks is best for her baby." However, one of the support workers was heard saying on the video she has "concerns for the safety and well being of the baby" and that "this is not going to end any differently at the moment."
The officers tried to reason and convince the young mom to give them her baby, but when she was not convinced, they snatched the child away. The officers said that she was "hurting the baby" when she tried to keep her child. "He's crying... We'll sort stuff out but he's going to have to go," one of the workers said.
The mom, who didn't trust the officials, said that she had "concerns for the safety and well being of the baby." A spokesperson of the Family and Community Services said that the department "takes concerns about children’s safety and wellbeing extremely seriously." They added, "At times, however, the public’s concern is at odds with our statutory requirement to protect privacy."
Lots of women raise kids in rainforest around Byron Bay since the 70s ...dragging children away is hitleresque ....stolen generation style
— karen macken (@satellitesista) January 20, 2021
Dramatic moment cops hold back NSW mum as authorities remove her eight-month-old child https://t.co/wEhXFgDzgz
The mother and her boyfriend, who are the parents of the child and remain anonymous, reportedly don't believe in vaccinations and live an entirely "organic lifestyle" in a remote commune in Australia. The child's father raised concerns over how his child is being cared for. He was worried that his child was being bathed in chemicals and was being forced to sleep alone.
"He sleeps in between [his mother] and I... Never by himself. When he wakes up at night, mumma is right there with her breast," he explained. "He never cries, is always smiling and laughing. We don't know when he will return but we hope to be reunited soon," said the dad.
The video has raised concerns from the online community as well. The support workers were criticized for telling the young mother that she was "hurting" her own baby.
"I will not have you take my baby. I birthed this child. He will drink my milk," the mother was heard saying in the video, as per 7 News.
A fundraising page has been set up to help the family get funds to help their search for their child as the couple has not been told where their child is. "Our beautiful son Ziji Lion has been stolen from our arms due to FALSE AND MISLEADING INFORMATION. As Mothers, Fathers, Aunties, Uncles, and Grandparents we can feel the trauma this separation is causing to our family [sic]," the page read.
References:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/reunite-gumnut-baby-ziji-w-grace-and-maui?
