Autistic Children Association Chair's Remarks Bring Controversy

An autistic children association chairperson's remarks on autistic children being atheist enraged families and caregivers across Turkey.

"Autistic children are atheist. They can be converted to faith by therapy," said Fehmi Kaya, chairperson of Adana-based Autistic Children Health and Education Association.

Claiming that autistic children's brains are devoid of faith faculties, Kaya told Ihlas News Agency that they were going to collaborate with a local municipality to offer free therapy sessions to convert autistic children to faith.

Estimates say there are at least 700,000 autistic individuals in Turkey.

"Those children can't even take care of themselves..."

Nurşen Hançer, mother and autism center administrator, told bianet that no authority had the right to say such things on autistic children.

"He is an autistic children association chair, but he doesn't know what autism is. Those children can't even take care of themselves. They hardly communicate with others. How can they have religious education? I, myself, am a practicing Muslim. But such task is impossible," she said.

She also added: "Thry must offer more classes at rehab centers in the first place. They must resolve the mixing issue at public schools."

"They tried to offer religion classes at rehab"

Adem Kuyumcu, A Life Without Disabilities Association chairperson, told bianet that some rehab centers under the umbrella of Turkey's National Education Ministry were recommend to add religion classes in their curriculum.

"These centers offer classes only 8 hours over month. This is not enough at all. There is a variety of things autistic children should learn in these 8 hours. Officials had to change mind upon families' criticism. I have been receiving complaint calls from families. We can't sue the association chair for his remarks, but we fear that the unscientific therapy practice could spread across the country," he said. (NV/BM)