Norwegian authorities are investigating the death of Maryam, a 14-year-old girl from a Chechen family. She died on September 9—roughly five weeks after being forcibly removed from her home and placed in a child welfare facility.
According to relatives who spoke to a *Novy DOSH* correspondent, the reason for forcibly taking the girl from her parents—who live in Bergen—was an alleged report that her mother had struck her.
It is not yet officially known what happened to Maryam after she was placed in state care or what caused her death weeks later. Norwegian police must now establish the full circumstances of the incident.
On August 5, police officers burst into the family's home, took Maryam away, and arrested her parents. Representatives of the Chechen diaspora told our publication that two sons, who were playing outside at the time, were also taken away.
The parents were held separately, and the family was not informed of the children's whereabouts. A court remanded the couple in custody for three weeks, simultaneously banning them from visits or correspondence. The detention period was later extended by another three weeks.
After his release, the girl's father sought an explanation. He noted that the initial allegations had been directed at Maryam's mother and asked police why he, too, had been detained. He claims he was told he might interfere with the investigation.
Meanwhile, Maryam was staying at a facility run by Bufetat—the Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs. Relatives say she contacted her family several times during her stay, reportedly mentioning problems with the food. In particular, relatives claim that Maryam spoke about being offered pork at the facility—food she refused to eat for religious reasons. The news outlet has obtained screenshots of the girl's messages.
Shortly before her death, Maryam called a relative again. Her aunt claims the girl told her she was hungry. The relative offered to bring food, but Maryam reportedly replied that this was forbidden. She also allegedly said she was not allowed to speak on the phone.
Maryam died approximately half an hour after this conversation—at least, that is the sequence of events described by her family.
"Just like that, for no reason, they took this girl away, and returned her to us dead," Maryam's aunt lamented.
The cause of death has not yet been announced. Relatives say that hospitals and government agencies informed them they would receive answers only after forensic examinations were completed.
Police are investigating the circumstances of the death while simultaneously examining the operations of the facility where Maryam was staying, as well as the conduct of Barnevernet (Norway’s child welfare service). Øystein Breirem Jacobsen, head of the relevant unit at the Norwegian supervisory authority, stated that the possibility of a failure in public services could not be ruled out.
Meanwhile, as reported by *Kavkaz.Realii*, authorities in the Norwegian county of Vestland have launched an administrative investigation into child welfare services following the death of the 14-year-old daughter of Chechen natives. They are determining whether the girl, who was staying at an emergency placement center, received proper care. Regional authorities confirmed this to the publication in response to an official inquiry.
"At this stage of the administrative investigation, we cannot disclose many details. We are continuing to gather information to establish whether the girl received appropriate services and care," they stated. "It is not yet known how long the review will take or whether any violations occurred." Lydia Nagy Mølver, the lawyer representing the mother, Maryam, stated that her clients are awaiting an investigation into the circumstances of the incident.
The girl's family insists that no violence was inflicted upon their daughter. Representatives of the Chechen diaspora in Norway—including the Council of Elders, human rights activists, and the Committee on Women's Rights—also believe that state authorities must explain why the child, who had been removed from her family under the child protection system, subsequently died while in state custody.
The girl's two brothers remain in state care facilities. Their fate has become a separate source of concern for the family; relatives fear that the boys, too, could remain in state custody for an extended period.
The situation has sparked heated discussion within Chechen communities. Various accounts of the incident are circulating on Telegram channels, with some calling on residents of Norway to stage protests and demand an investigation and the punishment of those responsible.
Mansur Soltaev, the Chechen Ombudsman, announced plans to submit formal appeals regarding the tragedy to Yana Lantratova, the Russian Commissioner for Human Rights, and to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
