Turkish President Erdogan condemned for child martyrdom comments

(CitizensOutpost) Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is in the midst of controversy as a recent video has surfaced showing the President calming a very young, crying child, assuring her that she would receive state honors if she were killed in battle.

Via The Daily Mail:

The Turkish president has appeared in a bizarre video in which he assures a sobbing child in military uniform that she would get state honours if killed while fighting.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan was heard commenting: 'If she's martyred, they'll lay a flag on her,' at a televised congress of his AK party.

He 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.

Watch the video here:

Critics have immediately condemned the President's actions as a form of child abuse, carrying out such propaganda in an effort to bolster Islamic State fighters.

In the event the young girl - estimated to be about five years old - dressed as a soldier seems to catch the attention of Mr Erdogan, who then invites her to the stage, the BBC reported.

'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 said during the congress in the southern town of Kahramanmaras on Saturday.

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

Mr Erdogan then kissed her face and let her go.

This controversial display comes on the heels of a major operation launched by Turkey since January 20th where YPG Kurdish forces are being targeted in Afrin.

Read More: Turkish President Erdogan condemned for child martyrdom comments