Story By: Feza Uzay, Sub-Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency:  Newsflash

A childless couple who adopted a baby boy a month after he was born have been left devastated after the toddler’s biological dad turned up demanding that his son be returned to him.

Ayca Catal, 41, and Atakan Catal, 42, who could not have children naturally, applied to the Provincial Directorate of Family, Labor and Social Services in the south-eastern Turkish city of Adana two years ago for the right to adopt a child.

They were then allowed to adopt the 45-day-old baby boy who had been abandoned by his family.

The little boy was given the name Mustafa Kemal by his new parents, and they say he is not only loved by them, but their extended family too.

Turkish adoption laws leave a one-year window for a child’s biological parents to apply to have the child returned to them.

Reportedly, Mustafa Kemal’s biological dad, who has only been identified as A. O., filed the request just a couple of days before the one year window closed.

As a result of A. O.’s claim, a protracted legal battle broke out over little Mustafa’s future.

The couple, who were shocked when they found out about the father’s petition, have had their status changed from the adoptive parents of Mustafa back to ‘temporary foster family’.

Atakan said: “In the report requested from Diyarbakir Family, Labor and Social Services Directorate about the biological father of our son, it was stated that the father is unemployed and is already struggling to take care of his two children. However, he wants to take Mustafa Kemal back as well.”

Atakan added: “The idea of him being taken away from us terrifies us. I am not his biological father, but we raised him, and all my family members love him greatly.”

According to the local news site Antalya Haber, the couple arranged a meeting with the biological father so that he can see Mustafa Kemal, however, the meeting did not go well.

Ayca stated that the toddler reacted very negatively to his biological father’s presence.

She explained: “He was crying after the meeting and saying that he does not want to be with his biological father.”

Mustafa’s adoptive mother added: “I am terrified of losing him. I don’t want to lose him.”

For now, the toddler remains with its adoptive parents, however, future legal proceedings could well force them to give up Mustafa and return him to his biological father.

No court dates were made public yet regarding the hearings that will decide the little boys future.

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