People with down syndrome go straight to heaven, says PM's wife

ISTANBUL

Taken from Family and Social Policies Ministry's Facebook page

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's wife Emine Erdoğan attended a meeting yesterday organized for people with down syndrome by the Transportation, Marine and Communication Ministry in the capital of Ankara, the daily Radikal has reported.

Emine Erdoğan told reporters that she had a relative who had down syndrome.

"I had a close relative who had down syndrome. His name was Hayrettin. He was the mascot of the family. We loved him so much. The Prime Minister loved him very much too. He died a few years ago." she said.

"I wish all disabled people had down syndrome. Because, if I'm right, they are going to go directly to heaven after death according to Islam. I hope we will go to heaven too, for loving these people," she added.

The meeting was aimed at presenting the Ministry's assistance project for people with down syndrome. Turkish Transport Minister Binali Yıldırım and Family and Social Policies Minister Fatma Şahin also attended the ceremony.