03.06.2025 17:56
A family in Adana filed a criminal complaint after claiming that their 7-year-old autistic child was assaulted by his teacher at a special education center. The mother stated, "I noticed that my son had been assaulted when he came home. He had bruises on his arms and back. Then, the teacher who assaulted my son called and said, 'He refused group training, attacked me. Then there was a struggle between us. He also assaulted me.'"
According to claims, on Thursday, May 22, in the Seyhan district of Adana, the couple Halil and Gamze Serkanoğlu noticed scratches on their 7-year-old child T.A.'s arm and bruises on his back when he returned from the Dora Autism Rehabilitation Center located in the Sümer neighborhood. The mother, wanting to learn about the situation, tried to reach the school but received no response.
TEACHER SAID "HE ASSAULTED ME"
Meanwhile, the mother claimed that her child's teacher, Ç.Ş., called her and stated, "T.A. did not want group training, he attacked me. Then there was a struggle between us. He also assaulted me." Following this, the Serkanoğlu couple went to the school. The school principal responded to the family's request for camera recordings by saying, "The recordings overlapped, they cannot be opened." The family, who met with the teacher, did not see any signs of assault on him.
THEY FILED A COMPLAINT
Subsequently, the family, who took their son out of the school, took him to Karşıyaka State Hospital to obtain a report of the assault and filed a complaint at the Bağlar Police Station against the institution and the teacher.
"I NOTICED HE WAS ASSAULTED WHEN HE CAME HOME"
While an investigation was initiated regarding the incident, mother Gamze Serkanoğlu recounted her experience. Serkanoğlu said, "I noticed that my son was assaulted when he came back from the rehabilitation center. He had bruises on his arm and back. When we reported this to the institution, we did not receive any feedback. After a while, the teacher who assaulted my son called and stated, 'T.A. did not want group training, he attacked me. Then there was a struggle between us. He also assaulted me.' We went to the school and requested the camera footage, but we were told, 'the recordings overlapped, they cannot be opened.' Later, we went and obtained a report of the assault and filed a criminal complaint," she said.
"MY SON IS AFRAID RIGHT NOW"
Explaining that autistic children are sensitive, mother Serkanoğlu stated, "Autistic children are already marginalized by society. These children are special, and if the people who educate them behave like this, it is unacceptable. We stand by our case until the end. My son is very afraid right now. Whenever he sees someone, he shows his arm and says, 'my teacher did this.' We want support to be given to us," she expressed.
DEFAMATION LAWSUIT AGAINST THE FAMILY FROM THE REHABILITATION CENTER
On the other hand, the director of the education center, M.A., stated that they do not accept the allegations, that they have filed a defamation lawsuit against the family, that there are no security cameras in the corridors and classrooms of the school due to legal regulations, and that there is only a camera at the entrance and exit of the school, which does not show any assault, and that they will provide the necessary explanations in court.