Siblings Separated in Childhood Reunite and Fall in Love, Sparking Legal Battle Over Incest
Patrick Syuebing and Susan Karolewski, a brother and sister who were separated for over two decades during their childhood in East Germany, have made headlines after revealing they fell in love as adults and now have four children together. The couple, who insist they "followed their hearts," feel "no guilt" over their relationship, which is illegal under Germany's incest laws and has led to Patrick serving two prison sentences.
A Tumultuous Reunion Leads to an Unconventional Bond
Patrick was reunited with his younger sister Susan after more than twenty years apart, having been placed in foster care following a knife attack by their father when he was just three years old. Their reconnection came just six months before the death of their mother, Ana Marie, in December 2000. In the aftermath of this loss, the then-23-year-old Patrick began sharing a bedroom with Susan, who was 16 at the time and has mental disabilities, leading to a physical relationship that they describe as born out of mutual support during a difficult period.
Patrick has stated, "I became head of the family and I had to protect my sister. She is very sensitive but we helped each other during this very difficult period and eventually that relationship became physical." Despite having had a previous relationship with another woman, Patrick emphasised that they were unaware of the legal implications initially, saying, "We didn't even know we were doing anything wrong when we started sleeping together. We didn't think about using a condom. We didn't know it was illegal to sleep together."
Legal Challenges and Personal Sacrifices in the Fight for Recognition
The couple's relationship resulted in the birth of four children, two of whom have disabilities, prompting them to launch a legal challenge against Germany's incest laws in 2001. They later took their case to the European Court of Human Rights in 2012, arguing that their right to private and family life had been violated. Patrick has been jailed twice for incest-related offences during this protracted legal battle.
In a bid to avoid further imprisonment, Patrick underwent sterilisation surgery, hoping to convince the courts that they posed no risk of having more children. He asserted, "There is no reason for them to jail me now. I do not want to go back to jail and I know we will never voluntarily leave each other. If anyone doubts our love they should just see we will not be kept apart."
Defending Their Love Against Societal and Legal Norms
Susan has also been vocal in defending their relationship, stressing that they did not grow up together and thus their bond formed as adults. She explained, "We didn't know each other in childhood, it's not the same for us. We fell in love as adults and our love is real. There is nothing we could do about it. We were both attracted to each other and then nature took over from us. It was that simple."
Their lawyer has argued that there are greater risks in other circumstances, such as when disabled people or older women have children, which are not banned, suggesting an inconsistency in the law. Germany's ban on incest dates back to legislation introduced during the Nazi era and remains in force today, with similar laws existing in the UK, France, Denmark, Zimbabwe, and Malaysia. In contrast, countries like Afghanistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Nigeria impose severe penalties, including the death sentence, for such acts.
The couple continues to advocate for the abolition of incest laws, with Patrick stating, "We do not feel guilty about what has happened between us. We want the law which makes incest a crime to be abolished." Their story raises complex questions about love, family, and legal boundaries in modern society.
