A Turkish government body, the Presidency of Religious Affairs, came under fire after it published a cartoon in its "Child Magazine," showing a dialogue promoting martyrdom.
"I wish I could be killed as a martyr," the child says in the last panel of the comic.
"They want to use the drawings to transfer the message of martyrdom to children because they think it will be more attractive. 'Martyrs suffer,' 'sins forgiven' it says. So it’s a painless death and a promise of heaven," Degirmencioglu said.
He added that this is being done as part of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's attempt to introduce children to radical Islam at an early age.
"Religiosity has, in recent years, turned into a literal political tool. They do not even hide it. The Ministry of Religion was provided with more money than several other ministries combined and continues intensive work for religious children," Degirmencioglu added.
In a way, he added, this is not something new, as people have spread the idea of a religious death to children for centuries.
