ISTANBUL - Samah Raf'at A. Ahmad, a Palestinian woman who gave birth in Suleymaniye Gynaecology and Paediatrics Training and Research Hospital, said that the hospital detained her baby because she could not pay the delivery expenses.

 

Samah Raf'at A. Ahmad, a Palestinian living in Fatih district of Istanbul and pregnant with her second child, gave birth on 11 January at Süleymaniye Obstetrics and Gynecology Training and Research Hospital in Zeytinburnu. However, the baby was not given to her mother. The hospital invoiced Samah Raf'at A. Ahmad 40 thousand TL for the birth expenses. The hospital management stated that the baby would not be given to her unless she paid the money. Samah Raf'at A. Ahmad has been forced to go to the hospital for 5 days with a QR code attached to her hand and return home after breastfeeding her baby.

Speaking to Mezopotamya Agency (MA), Samah Raf'at A. Ahmad asked for help to get her baby who was taken "hostage" by the hospital for lack of money.

 

'WE WILL NOT GIVE THE CHILD IF YOU DO NOT GIVE THE MONEY'

 

Explaining what happened, Samah Raf'at A. Ahmad said, "I have 2 children with my newborn baby. I am a Palestinian refugee. On the 11th of January, we went to a hospital in Zeytinburnu around 08.00 p.m. I was pregnant and gave birth to a child. After the birth, the hospital issued me an invoice and asked me for 40 thousand liras. I couldn't give it to them because I didn't have any money. I went back two days later, and this time the hospital asked me for 50 thousand liras. The people at the hospital told me, 'If you do not give money, we will not give you your baby'."

 

Samah Raf'at A. Ahmad stated that she left her country due to the war started by Israel against Palestine and has been living in Fatih district of Istanbul for 3 years, said that she does not work anywhere and therefore cannot give the money requested. Samah Raf'at A. Ahmad said, "I don't work anywhere here. Only the people around are trying to help me as much as they can. I don't have any income. We are Palestinians and naturally refugees, so it is very difficult for us in official jobs. You know Gaza, it is a finished place. We have nothing left there either."

 

 

Samah Raf'at A. Ahmad, who lives in difficult conditions in Turkey and wants her baby to be given to her, said: "I already live in very difficult conditions. I go to the hospital every day and return after seeing and breastfeeding my baby. In this way, I have to go to and from the hospital once a day."

 

Samah Raf'at A. Ahmad said that her husband was deported about 7 months ago due to the alleged lack of documents, said, "I thank the doctors very much. But it is very difficult for me to earn 40 or 50 thousand liras and give them. My husband was deported about 7 months ago. As Palestinian refugees, it is very difficult to live here without getting documents and being illegal. Let them give me my child. I also call for sensitivity to the public."

 

HOSPITAL DID NOT GIVE INFORMATION

 

The hospital secretariat, whom we contacted by phone, merely said, "For security reasons, we cannot give you information on this issue."

 

MA / Ömer İbrahimoğlu