President puts young girl on show as a future Turkish martyr
TURKEY’S president has come under fire after telling a tearful young girl in military uniform the country would honour her if she became a martyr.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan invited the girl on stage on Saturday during a televised meeting for his Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party.
The girl appeared to be sobbing as she walked towards the podium. Mr Erdogan kissed her on both cheeks and indicated a Turkish flag in her pocket.
“If she is martyred, a flag will be put on her, God willing,” he says to the crowd. “She is ready for everything, isn’t she?” According to the New York Times, the girl was six years old.
Mr Erdogan gave her a final kiss before letting her go. It was unclear why the girl, who has not been identified, was dressed in military uniform.
Those in the audience yelled “Chief! Take us to Afrin!” in reference to an offensive launched by Turkey on Jan 20 in northwestern Syria.
Mr Veli Agbaba, deputy chairman of the main opposition CHP, said: “Bringing a little child to the stage in front of thousands of people and blessing death is a big mistake.
“Children should never be in the shadow of weapons and should not be the face of wars.”
Mr Erdogan has previously said he wants to raise a “pious generation.” The curriculum in religious vocational schools this year introduced the concept of jihad as being about patriotism.
Student intake at Islamic schools has increased sharply since 2012 and the Turkish government plans to double its funding for religious upper schools.
Yesterday, Turkey sent special forces to the Afrin region after Ankara said a UN resolution calling for a 30-day ceasefire throughout Syria did not apply to its offensive. The UN later told him that the truce did include the
Afrin region.