Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan comes under criticism for telling a small girl dressed in a military uniform that she would be honored if she were “martyred” for Turkey.
Erdogan spotted 6-year-old Amine Tiras weeping and saluting while the president was delivering a speech at his ruling party’s congress in the city of Kahramanmaras on Saturday, and had her brought on stage.
After trying to comfort the girl by kissing her on both cheeks, Erdogan told the crowd: “She has the Turkish flag in her pocket. If she becomes a martyr, God willing, this flag will be draped on her.”
Some people are appalled and take to Twitter to criticize the president.
One user says it is the state’s duty to protect children, not to “kill” them. Another says: “you don’t wish death for a child, you never say: ‘God willing.'”
— AP
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