Indian Man wants to Sue Parents for his Birth

Raphael Samuel, aged 27, from Mumbai, intends to sue his parents for giving birth to him without his consent.

He has stated that it is wrong to bring children into the world because they then have to put up with lifelong suffering.

The businessman knows that we cannot give consent before we are born, but insists that “it was not our decision to be born”.

Mr Samuel argues that as we did not ask to be born, we should be paid for the rest of our lives to live.

His belief is known as anti-natalism which argues that people should stop procreating because life is full of misery.

He even set up a Facebook page in which he voices his opinion on anti-natalism.

Such a demand would usually cause tension within any family, but Mr Samuel says he has a good relationship with his parents.

Raphael’s parents, who are both lawyers, have taken a humorous approach when dealing with their son’s belief.

In a statement, his mother Kavita Karnad Samuel said:

“I must admire my son’s temerity to want to take his parents to court knowing both of us are lawyers.

“And if Raphael could come up with a rational explanation as to how we could have sought his consent to be born, I will accept my fault.”

Mr Samuel feels it would be better for the world as it would gradually phase out humanity.

He said: “There’s no point to humanity. So many people are suffering. If humanity is extinct, Earth and animals would be happier.

“They’ll certainly be better off. Also, no human will then suffer. Human existence is totally pointless.”

Raphael created his Facebook page in 2018 which is named Nihilanand. Images are of him wearing a large fake beard, an eye-mask and surrounded by anti-natalist messages.

Some examples include:

“Isn’t forcing a child into this world and forcing it to have a career, kidnapping and slavery?”

“Your parents had you instead of a toy or a dog, you owe them nothing, you are their entertainment.”

His posts have attracted a lot of attention. Some are positive but most are negative with some people telling him to “go kill yourself”.

“Some argue logically, some are offended and some are offensive.

“To those abusing me, let them abuse me.”

“But I also hear from many who say they support me but can’t say this publicly for whatever reasons. I ask them to come out and speak up.”

Critics also say that Raphael does this for publicity.

“I’m not really doing this for publicity, but I do want the idea to go public. This simple idea that it’s okay to not have a child.”

Raphael’s anti-natalist thoughts began at age five. He explained:

“I was a normal kid. One day I was very frustrated and I didn’t want to go to school but my parents kept asking me to go.

“So I asked them: ‘Why did you have me?’ And my dad had no answer. I think if he’d been able to answer, maybe I wouldn’t have thought this way.”

Mr Samuel spoke about the idea to his parents. According to him, his mother reacted “very well” and his dad is “warming up” to the idea.

He said: “Mum said she wished she had met me before I was born and that if she did, she definitely wouldn’t have had me.

“She told me that she was quite young when she had me and that she didn’t know she had another option. But that’s what I’m trying to say, everyone has the option.”

Kavita said it was unfair to focus on a “sliver of what he believes in”.

She said: “His belief in anti-natalism, his concern for the burden on Earth’s resources due to needless life, his sensitivity toward the pain experienced unwittingly by children while growing up and so much more has been ruefully forgotten.

“I’m very happy that my son has grown up into a fearless, independent-thinking young man. He is sure to find his path to happiness.”

Raphael’s decision to sue his parents is only based on his belief that the world would be better without humans. He even uploaded a video explaining his reasons and that it is for all the anti-natalism believers.

Watch the Video

In August 2018, Mr Samuel told his mother that he was planning to sue her. She replied:

“That’s fine, but don’t expect me to go easy on you. I will destroy you in court.”

Mr Samuel knows that it is likely no one wants to hear his reasons, but he wants to make a point.

“I know it’s going to be thrown out because no judge would hear it. But I do want to file a case because I want to make a point.”

Raphael is currently looking for a lawyer to represent him in the case, but so far he has not had much success to sue his parents.