President of Turkey slaps a child across the face on stage for not kissing his hand after he held it out.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had been attending the opening ceremony of the Aider Plateau Protection and Renewal Project in the northern Rize province on July 27 when the incident took place.
HOW IT HAPPENED
During the event, where the leader was seen handing keys to the new homeowners of houses rebuilt as part of an urbanisation project, two young boys appeared on stage to greet the president after he delivered a short speech.
In viral footage, Erdogan was seen extending his hand to the two children so they could kiss it but one hesitated for just a moment while staring up at the president.
Viewers were then left in shock when Erdogan quickly flicked his wrist and slapped the small boy across the face, before resuming his position and waiting for his kiss.
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?
The child appeared to be giggling following the slap, but continued to look up at the president for a moment before finally planting a kiss on the top of his hand.
Erogan – seemingly forgiving the boy’s behaviour – then handed both of the children some money as a gift and hugged them before they climbed off the stage.
VIEWERS REACT
Although the child did not seem fazed by the ‘slap’, the gesture sparked discussion on social media with some users criticising the Turkish leader’s behaviour.
One wrote: ‘I wonder how he treats people behind closed doors if he can do that in front of the camera’.
Another said: ‘That’s disgusting from Erdogan’.
‘This world makes me sicker by the day,’ commented a third.
