ANKARA, Turkey, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- Turkish lawmakers have accused European countries of illegally removing Turkish children from their homes.
A report from the Turkish Parliament's Human Rights Inquiry Committee said about 5,000 Turkish children have been removed from their homes in Europe, particularly in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, and placed in foster care, Spiegel Online reported Friday.
The committee ordered an investigation after receiving complaints from parents in the three countries and found that European judges regularly ruled against Turkish national parents in cases of alleged abuse, financial problems "or other false allegations."
Such rulings foster the "break up of families" and the "assimilation of the children into European culture."
In many cases, Turkish children have been "alienated" from Turkish culture and have lost contact with their families, the report said.
European courts are also not giving proper consideration to the culture and values of Turkish families.
"Although close relatives stand ready to care for the children, they are not being taken into consideration," the report said.
