Sanam Gharaee & Sofia Rutbäck Eriksson
SANAM GHARAEE holds a medical degree and has worked as a doctor since 2006. In 2022, she experienced the devastating loss of her daughter, Celin, just one week before her due date. A few months later, her eight-year-old son, Tintin, was tragically murdered by his own father, Sanam’s ex-husband.
After Tintin’s death, Sanam had to find a way to survive and cope with her overwhelming grief. She wanted to keep Tintin’s memory alive and share the story of her remarkable son with the world. Tintin, an inventor, wise beyond his years and a lover of books, had many dreams—one of which was to travel. But Sanam also sought to raise awareness about how the authorities’ neglect of psychological abuse had contributed to Tintin's death. She wanted to create change for other children who are still victims of domestic violence.
To honour Tintin’s memory and advocate for those children, Sanam decided to write a book about him and asked her friend, author Sofia Rutbäck Eriksson, for help. Never Forget Tintin marks Sanam Gharaee’s debut as an author.
SOFIA RUTBÄCK ERIKSSON is a social worker who became a full-time author in 2023, lives in the same village as Sanam, outside Luleå in northern Sweden.
Never Forget Tintin led to changes and strengthened children’s rights in Sweden in January 2025, protecting them against violent parents.
" Glöm aldrig Tintin (Never Forget Tintin) is more than a heartbreaking true story – it is also a testament to love, resilience, and the fight for justice. Written by child psychiatrist and trauma therapist Sanam Gharaee together with award-winning author Sofia Rutbäck Eriksson, this memoir tells the story of Sanam's son Tintin, who was killed by his father during a court-mandated visitation.
While unflinchingly honest about the devastating events, the book has given countless women affected by domestic violence the courage and hope to keep fighting for their children. As one women's shelter wrote to Sanam: "You should know that you give hope and strength to many of the women and girls we meet."
The book has received outstanding reviews in Sweden, sold thousands of copies, and inspired a growing movement for stronger child protection laws. Its reach is now set to grow even further: SVT, Sweden's national broadcaster, has granted full funding for a feature documentary about the fight for justice that followed Tintin's death – a film that will also allow viewers to get to know Tintin himself. This upcoming documentary is expected to spark significant international interest in his story.
Never Forget Tintin is not only a personal memoir, but also a rallying cry for change, destined to resonate with readers and activists worldwide."
The book Never Forget Tintin was nominated for the Storytel Awards 2025 in the Non-Fiction category.
Instagram: sanamlextintin
Never Forget Tintin
Never Forget Tintin is not only a deeply personal memoir about a mother’s struggle to protect her son. It is also a true story of unconditional love, grief, hope, and resilience, making it universally relevant to readers around the world.
Never Forget Tintin has been praised by critics and readers, selling over 26 000 copies in a year.
Back cover text – Never Forget Tintin
It was the best thing that had ever happened to me when the pregnancy test showed a little plus sign. I was going to be a mother—something I had longed for so deeply. When Tintin was born, my life felt complete.
My husband, A, was a researcher and had adored me from the start. He put me on a pedestal. Everyone around us said we were the perfect couple. But something changed when we had a child. I had once devoted all my time to A, but now my focus was on Tintin. When things no longer revolved around my husband’s terms, I was no longer the wife he wanted. And he left us.
What followed were years of psychological abuse—toward both me and Tintin. I was granted sole custody, but A still had visitation rights. Tintin became increasingly afraid of seeing his own father. When I discovered that A was planning to take him abroad, I stopped the visitations. Still, the court ruled that A should have the right to see his son. That a man has the right to his child.
That decision led to A murdering Tintin. He murdered my child.
Never Forget Tintin is the story of a mother trying to free herself from a violent man—and losing against the Swedish legal system. It is a true account of what it means to have your child murdered by the person you once loved the most.
Review of the book:
“I can only bow to the strength of expressing the inexpressible. Never Forget Tintin is a necessary book, and it is also beautifully written in all its pain.”
– Norrbottens-Kuriren
“A powerful depiction of the importance of listening to children.”
– Aftonbladet
“A reading experience that is both beautiful and painful.”
– Socionomen
“This is Tintin’s life story from beginning to end. We get to see all the good—his zest for life, his joy, and his wisdom. A boy who wanted to live.”
– Njurundabladet
“A study in psychological abuse, post-separation abuse, and what in English is called ‘paper abuse.’ It is a book of high literary quality.”
– Expressen
Original title: Glöm aldrig Tintin
Publication: Lindh & Company 2024
Rights sold: All rights available
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