The Duchess of York Turkey Orphanage (part 4 of 4)

Sarah Ferguson Children of Turkey.
ELEANOR HALL: The Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, has sparked a diplomatic row between Britain and Turkey with a documentary she filmed on state run orphanages in Turkey.

The Turkish government is threatening the Duchess with legal action over the film which has just aired in Britain.

The film is an expose of the conditions that disabled children are forced to endure in Turkish orphanages.

But the Turkish Government has accused the Duchess of using the film to run a smear campaign against Turkey, just it is trying to join the European Union.

In London, Stephanie Kennedy reports.

STEPHANIE KENNEDY: Wearing a black wig and scarf, the undercover Duchess secretly filmed in some of Turkey's orphanages for children with mental disabilities to see firsthand the conditions.

(Extract from documentary)

SARAH FERGUSON: But it is also the smell. It is that smell. It gets into your bones.

REPORTER: Terribly overwhelming.

SARAH FERGUSON: It was, wasn't it?

REPORTER: It really was overwhelming.

SARAH FERGUSON: I think it was really important that we went into that place upstairs. It was just so degrading - the whole thing for these poor people.

(End of extract)

STEPHANIE KENNEDY: The documentary shows one boy who is kept in a box because he's hyperactive.

SARAH FERGUSON: And I saw children with suffering from Down Syndrome and other kinds of disabilities. They are fed on their backs and given no love and no support.

There was one child when I was walking through the orphanage which was crawling on his back to get a gleam of sunlight from an open window. When I passed him he said good morning to me. He speaks English. There was nothing wrong with this boy. He just had a disability in his legs.

STEPHANIE KENNEDY: 18-year-old Princess Eugenie accompanied her mother to some of the orphanages and she was clearly moved by what she saw. Tears well up in her eyes and she says she feels angry.

PRINCESS EUGENIE: Well, I was completely overwhelmed. I mean I walked outside and there was a lady who was looking at me with these huge eyes. Just smiling from ear to ear and I was just, she was just so kind and I came in here looking like just, you know to be nice, see what is happening and she was the one who gave me my day.

STEPHANIE KENNEDY: Even before the documentary went to air Turkey accused the Duchess of smearing Turkey's image. Authorities say she is trying to sabotage their European Union membership bid.

Turkey's Minister for Women and Family Affairs is Nimet Cubukcu. She says Turkey has nothing to hide and she's accused the Duchess of York of deception.

NIMET CUBUKDU (translated): Recently representations from the Council of Europe visited these orphanages without warning. Sarah Ferguson wanted to go there too but her request was declined politely because of on-going repair works at the orphanages.

Still she went there - circumventing Turkish law - violating our legal system and our constitution by doing so. She abused the trust of the volunteers and charity workers there.

She deceived these people by saying she would pay substantial donations.

STEPHANIE KENNEDY: While the duchess is no longer a member of the Royal Family her daughters are, and this diplomatic spat is an embarrassment for their grandmother, the Queen. But Sarah Ferguson denies any political motives.

SARAH FERGUSON: This is my personal point of view. I am not a member of the Royal Family. I am not a politician. I went in there to highlight the plight of children and I have.

Now it seems that I have embarrassed the Turkish Government. Well, let's hope that I have embarrassed them enough in order for them to make changes in the welfare of their children.

I think it is important for the children that are locked in those cages. I really do. I think it is vital. They have got no-one standing up for them and they can't stand up for themselves. Will somebody please do something? OK, I will.

STEPHANIE KENNEDY: Turkey's Foreign Minister plans to raise the issue during talks with his British counterpart in London later today. In London this is Stephanie Kennedy reporting for The World Today.

Category:

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Tags:

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• princes
• fergie
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[krazeevilturtle]

Wow, I can't believe this. These vids are about children suffering around the world and here you guys are, making hateful and racist comments to each other instead of doing something useful with your lives...

[biddowntv]

Regardless of where this institution is, to see many children tied up and restrained because they have a mental disability or challenging behaviour, is inhumane and against their basic human right.

The carers need a tea-break and respite too!

Nothing will change until carers are educated and qualified in this specialised field of care and the monies are allocated to this area.

A child with severe S.L.D. and autism knows when they are loved and cared for.

A risk assessment is necessary PCP

[kierandempsey1]

@deivadder Well before you go casting outrageous aspersions, pay attention as to what is readily in front of you. This video clearly states that the visited TWO places; both Turkey and ROMANIA.

[mylilysgrandma]

Romania did better job to handle  the problem then Turkey.

I am speechless. Turkey has been caught in bad practice and trying to rationalize the fact in a despot arrogant manner. If sombody points out a problem this big, you better open your eyes and your hearts, if you have one! Instead the spokesperson Of Turkey threatened the reporter, well don't get surprised they put in jail daily everyone who does not think like them in the country.

[deivadder]

Bucarest is in Turkey ... sure, and Washington D.C. ist in Central Africa.

[zazagabora]

What I see here, something which in fact did not surprise me that the countries of the world that displays the years in many countries of the world many years ago you lived in my country, Is it a problem, please? so the answer is yes they will.

[jhartist123]

There are wonderfull childrens homes in America. I know this first hand. The kids are given more than plenty but like the lady said, nothing replaces the love and prescence of a mother.

[usatr1]

Sarah Ferguson Dutchess of York plots to sell access to Prince Andrew !!!!!!!!!

CORRUPTION AT ITS FINEST! Greedy Dutchess of York, CAUGHT RED HANDED "RECEIVING BRIBES"!! The Shameless B...ch needs to have title taken away...

[ytrogergt]

Gypsies are vermin.

[VlkClk]

It says you are a vampire in there as well..

[revengevampire]

@VlkClk -Ermm because it says on your profile?

[VlkClk]

Who the fuck told you that I'm living in Britain?