Minister refutes reports on same-sex siblings policy for foster families in Turkey

ANKARA

Family and Social Policies Minister Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya refuted on May 4 reports that decisions on granting custody of children to foster parents was being affected by the gender of the children.

Controversy had been stirred over reports that local officials in the Aegean province of İzmir were not giving away girls to parents who already have sons. 

“We investigate the foster families to whom we entrust children one by one. If you look at the examples of foster families, you will see that these reports are not true,” Kaya told reporters at a charity bazaar organized by the “Police Wives Foundation” in the capital Ankara, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

“Just as a male child grows up with a female child in a house, there are many foster families with a male child to whom we have given female children. This report is completely baseless,” the minister said.

Daily Habertürk had reported that the İzmir provincial directorate of the ministry grants foster families with children only if the child has the same gender as other children in the home, basing the news on provincial director Nesim Tanğlay’s statements. 

Tanğlay was reported to have based the directorate’s decision on previous child abuse cases. “If there is a boy in a home, we would of course not give away girls. If there is a risk, we don’t approve it,” she was quoted as saying 

Once Kaya’s comments slamming the reports appeared, daily Habertürk reportedly contacted Nesim Tanğlay once again. “I do not want to present an opinion regarding this topic,” Tanğlay was quoted as saying.