Turkish President Erdoğan slaps child in face for not kissing his hand

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.