Case Analysis of Krasniqi Family

Morgan Holcombe

Professor Simon

University of Alabama

Question 1

        One source of information that was not utilized by Child Protective Services was the relative placement of the children and the testimony of anthropologist, Barbara Helpern.

If CPS considered placing the children under the care of Kathy’s brother who lived in New York, the children would still be connected to their Muslim identity, they would have avoided all the trauma experienced in foster care, and they would have security knowing they are surrounded by someone they know and trust. Instead, they were placed in many different settings which ultimately lead to their conversion to Christianity. Although relative placement in the case could have been beneficial, it could have been detrimental to the children’s well-being as well. The brother comes from the same culture of the parents. If the children were placed under the care of the brother, the abuse could potential continue causing more traumatic experiences for the children in the future.

Barbara Helpern’s testimony Balkan culture greatly influenced Sam Krasniqi acquittal.  If CPS performed more researched on their Balkan culture, they would have found that Krasniqi’s actions were done not with sexual intent, but rather with playful affection in keeping with his culture. Helpern’s testimony could have also been detrimental to the well-being of the children as well. The children are more likely to assimilate to American culture than their parents because they were born in the United States. They will soon learn that their father’s physical affection is not acceptable in America. They might feel a sense of abuse and might even resent their father later in the future or continue this cycle of abuse to their children.

Question 2

The two main cultural differences that impacted this case were the Krasniqis and their cultural views on physical affection towards children and their Muslim faith.  

Barbara Halpern, the anthropologist who testified in The Kranisiqi’s case, stated that the Krasniqis come from a “very physically demonstrative culture from a region in Albania where children are adored”. Many adults often show their children physical affection. In the culture, it is not seen as a sign of sexual abuse. The father did not seem to regret his actions towards his daughter because, in his culture, child abuse simply does not exist. In our country, whenever someone touches a child on their genitals, it is considered sexual abuse regardless of the relationship between the victim and the abuser. The social worker did not complete any research on the Krasniqi’s culture, so ignorance and lack of research greatly impacted the outcome of the case. If her team researched their culture, they would have found that children receive a different type of physical attraction than a child would in the United States. The social worker’s goal should ultimately be to reunite the family. After speaking to the father multiple times, the father did not see what he was doing as a sexual act. The social worker expressed that she did not think the family would not be reunited because it was so interwoven into his relationship with his children.

Their Muslim faith was another cultural difference that impacted their case. The Kransiqi family pleaded with the Department of Human Services to be sensitive to the children’s Muslim identity, but little was done to meet the parent’s requests. The children were placed with a Christian foster family that tried to convert the children to Christianity. The social worker did not consider any form of kinship or relative placement. Kathy Kransiqi’s brother expressed his wishes to adopt but they were ignored given his Muslim identity. The children had never been away from their parents before and placing them with a relative could have been beneficial to the children. The children would still be connected to their Muslim identity and could enhance their relationship with their extended family.

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