Erdoğan says he is well after suffering health problem during Eid prayers

ISTANBUL

President Erdoğan waves to his supporters after Eid prayers.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said he is in a good condition after suffering a “minor health problem” during prayers marking Eid al-Fitr early on June 25.

“I have a small condition about my blood pressure, related to my diabetes,” Erdoğan told reporters in front of the Mimar Sinan Mosque after prayers in Istanbul’s Ataşehir district. 

“Thank God, I’m well now,” he added.

There were no changes reported in Erdoğan’s program after the problem. 

Hürriyet reporter Aziz Özen, who was following Erdoğan, said he saw the president collapse at 6 a.m. before the start of the prayers.

“The president arrived at the mosque at 5:20 a.m. After exchanging Eid greetings with citizens, he entered the mosque and started waiting. The fact that he started leaning toward the left while sitting at around 6 a.m. drew attention from those around him. Bodyguards quickly ran to the scene and then the doctors came,” said Özen. 

“The president was taken to another part of the mosque on a stretcher. Reporters were not allowed near the mosque until Erdoğan had spoken to them after the prayers,” he added.

Özen also said that Erdoğan looked well after receiving treatment.

“He was looking well. He then went to Kısıklı. His program will continue as planned and we will follow it throughout the day with other members of the press,” he added, referring to Erdoğan’s house in Üsküdar’s Kısıklı district. 

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, meanwhile, expressed his hope that Erdoğan would “get well soon.” 

“I learned in the morning that the leader of the Justice and Development Party [AKP] suffered a health problem. I would like to convey my wishes for him to get well soon,” Kılıçdaroğlu said in the western province of Bolu, where he is currently walking en route from Ankara to Istanbul as part of the “justice march.”
Turkey’s 11th President Abdullah Gül also wished Erdoğan a speedy recovery. 

“This may happen to anybody under this intense schedule. May God give him a quick recovery,” Gül said after performing Eid prayers in Üsküdar.