Mother of autistic youth hits back at Rama: I was at Parliament by chance while taking my son to therapy / Stafa: Aid doubling excludes 19-year-old, only for ages 0–18

Osman Stafa went to the Social Home in Shkozë, where the elderly woman and her son had been staying since the previous evening. He highlighted the inadequate conditions of this shelter, while the mother confessed she would be better off in her own apartment, which had just flooded.

During the conversation, she clarified that on Thursday she had not taken part in the protest, but was returning from Kamza with her son whom she was taking to a therapy session. Due to the road being blocked, she ended up by chance in front of Parliament, where they sprayed pepper in her eyes. She explained that her attendance at other gatherings was driven by her personal circumstances.

Stafa revealed that the 19-year-old son does not benefit from the doubling of social assistance mentioned by the prime minister. The current legislation provides this support only for children from birth to 18 years old, so the young man remains outside the scheme. “The prime minister has lied,” the journalist emphasized.

Asked about Rama’s statement, the mother asked that her son not be used for political rhetoric and added that the prime minister should face her. Stafa called it a shame that the boy was treated with violence and pepper spray, and invited Rama to come see their condition for himself.

During the meeting, the journalist informed her that Albanian citizens had raised 120,000 euros to help the family. “I thank you from the bottom of my heart!” the elderly woman expressed.

The report concluded with Stafa’s comment: “I don’t know how one can lie so openly, but when lying becomes a habit, you start believing it as the truth – and that is the end of a man.”