Erdogan Shows His Softer Side
Some Turks question why Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan cries over the death of an Egyptian protester but not a Turkish one.
As the saying goes, an ember burns where it falls. When there is a funeral in a house, it is only natural for the neighbors to share the pain but not be affected as strongly and deeply as those from that house. When Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan shed tears on the night of Aug.22, during a live television broadcast, the moderator decided to end the program as Erdogan was not able to break out of his emotions and carry on the conversation. This has created questions as to why he has become oversensitive about the death of Asmaa al-Beltagy but not Ali Ismail Korkmaz.
Let’s make a quick recap. Erdogan was being interviewed on Ulke TV last night when a pre-recorded video with a velvet-like voice read the letter written by Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammed al-Beltagy to his daughter Asmaa, who was killed on Aug. 14 in the midst of the violent protests in Cairo. Asmaa was only 17. “I believe you have been loyal to your commitment to God, and He has been to you,” the father wrote in the letter. “Otherwise, He would not have called you to His presence before me.” As Erdogan’s tears were visible at the inner corners of his eyes, the moderator asked, “What made you so emotional about this?”
Erdogan crying on Ulke TV
