Mother of autistic boy responds to Rama: Don't use my son! I wasn't protesting, I was taking him to therapy

Journalist Osman Stafa has reacted to Prime Minister Edi Rama's statements regarding the case of the 19-year-old with autism spectrum disorder, who was attacked by pepper spray during the July 23 protest in front of the Parliament, along with his mother.

Rama declared during a meeting of the Socialist Party parliamentary group and the government that aid for children with disabilities had been doubled, also referring to the case of the young man who appeared in a video that went viral.

But journalist Stafa, after a visit to the Social House in Shkoza where the family has been staying since last evening, opposed this statement, saying that the 19-year-old does not benefit from the scheme mentioned by the prime minister, as according to him the law provides benefits for the 0-18 age group.

During the conversation with the young man's mother, she said that she happened to be near Parliament on the day of the protest, as she was taking her son to therapy and the road was blocked. She said that she was affected by the pepper spray used by the police and demanded that the Prime Minister confront her about the situation.

Interview:

Mother: I wasn't in the protest at all, I was coming from Kamza, taking my son to therapy, but the road was blocked. On my way to Parliament, they threw pepper in my eye. Rama should come and confront me. Does pepper get thrown in a boy's eye? You have committed a sin with my son.

Staff: We are at the social home in Shkoza where the mother lives with her son.

Mother: Municipal Unit No. 1 brought it to me last night. I was better off at home, I didn't have water, but it came today.

Staff: From rain to hail, these are the social houses in 2026. Do you know that the prime minister said that social assistance has been doubled? The assistance has been doubled for those who are 0-18 years old, the son is 19 years old and does not benefit from it and the prime minister lied.

Mother: Don't use the words I use, son. I came out to protest in front of the Prime Minister's Office about my problems.

Staff: 120 thousand euros have been raised for you and your son.

Mother: Thank you from the bottom of my heart!