Outrage As Turkish President Slaps Child In Face For Not Kissing His Hand (Video)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan publicly smacked a small child in the face after the boy refused to kiss his hand, shocking video shows.

Erdoğan, 70, was handing out keys to residents whose homes were rebuilt as part of an urban renewal project in Rize in the country’s northeast on Saturday when two little boys approached him on the stage for some money, according to the Gazete Duvar.

Erdoğan held out his hand for the younger boy to kiss — a traditional sign of respect in Turkey — but the boy hesitated as he stared up at the president’s face.

When the boy did not oblige, the ill-tempered Turkish leader slapped the child on the cheek, video shows.

The boy, who has not been named, then shakes and kisses Erdoğan’s hand before the president gave the children some cash as a gift.

The Turkish leader smacked the boy when he approached him for money but hesitated to kiss his hand.

The younger boy kissed the president’s hand after he slapped him, but the older boy he was with did so without prodding.

The video has gone viral on social media with many users expressing disgust.

“I wonder how he treats people behind closed doors if he can do that in front of the camera,” one user wondered.

“Isn’t that some high level of terrorism and abuse??” another questioned. “Why do they have to kiss his hand as a sign of respect??”

Others defended Erdoğan, noting that kissing elders’ hands is part of Turkish culture.

“If you don’t do it you get corrected. Especially at a young age,” one user wrote.

It’s not the first time Erdoğan has come under fire for slapping a child.

In 2021, he hit a boy on the head during a celebration for the opening of the Salarkha Tunnel in Rize after the child shook the ceremonial ribbon, according to The Sun.

In 2023, the president publicly slapped his grandson in the face— but later claimed he was just “stroking” him.

Erdoğan has threatened to invade Israel amid escalating tensions in the region. He has critical of Israel’s military actions in Gaza following the Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on the Jewish state.

Turkey “must be very strong so that Israel can’t do these ridiculous things to Palestine,” he told members of his Justice and Development Party at a meeting.

“Just like we entered Karabakh, just like we entered Libya, we might do similar to them,” he added.