Rama insults children on the autism spectrum/ Centers remain silent, becoming partners in bullying

2025-04-22 14:40:00, Aktualitet CNA

Rama insults children on the autism spectrum/ Centers remain silent, becoming

Prime Minister Edi Rama has used insulting and bullying language towards different segments of society in his political rhetoric during the electoral campaign. First, he insulted men by calling them "sluts", then he told young people that they can search for my nude videos on the internet, while this Tuesday the lynch language went to another level, after he insulted children on the autism spectrum.

Rama said, among other things, that if Albanians elect the opposition on May 11, they are stupid and autistic.

" They paid the world's money to pay Latif. They attack me because I say half of men are idiots. What can I say, I say it as a metaphor, it's not a clinical report. For me, anyone who goes to the swamp is a half-breed. Choosing between the EU and the swamp, the swamp, means you are not good, politically you are autistic, you are not good," said Rama.

Following this statement, the CNA editorial team contacted several centers that deal with the treatment of children on the autism spectrum . We asked them about their position, since they deal with the care of these children and are the first to know in detail the difficulties that these children and their families face.

Rama insults children on the autism spectrum/ Centers remain silent, becoming
1. We contacted the “TISS Center”. In communication, this center said that it condemns discriminatory language towards people with special needs, the group for People with Disabilities will have to react. However, we were told by this center that they personally cannot react publicly without seeing Rama’s video. Rama’s video was sent to you by us as an editorial office, but until the publication of this material, there has not yet been a reaction from this center regarding the language of the head of government.

Rama insults children on the autism spectrum/ Centers remain silent, becoming

2. “NATIONAL THERAPEUTIC AND REHABILITATION CENTER FOR CHILDREN.” This center told us that they are busy, as they are focusing on these children and do not have time to comment.

Rama insults children on the autism spectrum/ Centers remain silent, becoming

3. We also contacted the "ALBANIAN AUTISM CENTER", who told us that they cannot provide an opinion , as they have not heard the Prime Minister's full comment, while adding that they will find the time to provide us with a comment, which has not happened as of the moment of publication of this material.

Rama insults children on the autism spectrum/ Centers remain silent, becoming

4. “REGIONAL AUTISM CENTER.” They told us we had to send them an official letter before they would give us a comment.

Rama insults children on the autism spectrum/ Centers remain silent, becoming
5. “PTC CENTER PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICE-MEDICAL CLINIC.” It was one of the centers that gave a very critical stance towards Prime Minister Rama and emphasized that the administration, including the Prime Minister, should be more informed about what the term autistic means.

"If it were known, it would not be used, as it is an attempt to bully our entire society or even others who suffer from this spectrum. Being autistic is not a disease and since it is not a disease, it is not something that can be cured, but must be treated. When we use this term, we must first think about whether or not each of us has autistic spectrum behavior. It should not be used for campaigning ," the center emphasized.

However, despite the critical stance, this center again did not want their comment to be made public . So, out of the 5 centers we contacted, none of them preferred to comment on the insulting language of the head of government, or even if they did comment, they chose not to make their voice public.
Dozens of centers and associations in Albania receive thousands of funds, often from local and central government, but when they should raise their voice to protect those who have a focus : children with autism spectrum, these centers choose to remain silent and with this silence become parties to the bullying of Prime Minister Rama and anyone who insults children and anyone else with autism spectrum./ CNA