13.04.2025 00:20
Five employees were detained for not allowing a child with Down syndrome into the play area at a shopping mall located in the Etimesgut district of Ankara. It was revealed that the mall employees also did not allow a child with autism into the play area on April 1st.
When a child with Down syndrome was not allowed into a play area in a shopping mall in the Etimesgut district of Ankara, their teacher Sevcan Odabaşı Karakurt reported the business and its employees to the police. The police informed the family of the victim child and began the necessary procedures.
THIS IS NOT THEIR FIRST INCIDENT
It was learned that this incident had previously occurred in the play area. On Tuesday, April 1, it was reported that an autistic child was also not allowed into the play area by the mall's employees, and the mother of the autistic child, G.K.K., reported the incident to the Ministry of Family and Social Services, and subsequently filed a complaint at the police station.
RESPONSIBLE MANAGER AND 4 EMPLOYEES TAKEN INTO CUSTODY
Upon the instruction of the public prosecutor, the responsible manager of the play area, E.G., and 4 female employees were taken into custody. It was learned that the individuals taken into custody would be referred to the court after their procedures at the police station.
PLAY AREA SEALED
Meanwhile, Erdal Beşikçioğlu, the Mayor of Etimesgut, stated in a press release following the incident that it was determined that some branches of the supermarket chain did not have the necessary legal permits and licenses for the children's play areas. Beşikçioğlu announced that the municipal police sealed off the play areas that were operating in violation of regulations, thereby terminating their activities. He noted that these actions were taken not only due to legal deficiencies but also in response to complaints from citizens and particularly in light of the publicized incident regarding the exclusion of the child with Down syndrome from the play area.