Turkish President Erdogan criticised for little girl “martyr” comment

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been criticised for telling a girl in military uniform that she would be honoured if killed while fighting.

Look what you see here! Girl, what are you doing here? We have our maroon berets here, but maroon berets never cry, he told her, referring to the beret worn by the Turkish Special Operations Forces.

She has a Turkish flag in her pocket too… If she’s martyred, they’ll lay a flag on her, God willing, he told the sobbing girl at a televised congress of his AK Party.

She is ready for everything, isn’t she?” The girl replied: Yes.

Erdogan made the comment - on live television - in front of cheering supporters who urged him to carry on with the military offensive against Kurdish fighters in Syria's northern Afrin region.

Chief! Take us to Afrin!, the crowed cheered in reference to Turkey’s operations against Kurdish fighters in Syria’s northern Afrin region.

The speech has been described as “child abuse” and a glorification of death.

In the event, broadcast live on state television, the young girl dressed as a soldier seems to catch the attention of president Erdogan, who then invites her to the stage.

President Erdogan then kissed her face and let her go.

Twitter users condemned Erdogan’s speech, with one comparing it to “child abuse”.

Another comment read: “It’s a shame, it’s very bad. She’s just a child, you don’t wish her dead and you don’t say ‘God willing’ for that!”

BBC