A woman in Turkey has temporarily lost custody of her son after a court deemed her job working as a nurse a "severe risk" due to COVID-19.
Cemile Deniz, 31, who works as an ambulance nurse for Turkey's Home Health Services, is in the process of divorcing Mehmet Atakan Deniz. A family court in the city of Ordu on Monday (local time) heard the case of who should have temporary custody of their 5-year-old son while the divorce process is ongoing.
Mehmet told the court their child was chronically ill with a poor immune system meaning he was under "severe risk" because of COVID-19.
"For this reason, I want custody to be given to me, albeit temporarily," he said in his court application, as reported by Turkish newspaper Milliyet.
While Irfan Demir, Cemile's lawyer, objected to the decision, the court granted temporary custody to Mehmet.
Officials will now inspect both Cemile and Mehmet's houses before deciding on permanent custody arrangements. Cemile told Milliyet the decision was unbelievable.
"COVID-19 is not my fault. I did not spread this to the country and I did not infect the world."
Cemile denied she was putting her son at risk and told the newspaper she had to work to provide for him.
"I have to do my job, I have to provide my child and my livelihood."
