Deventer Statesman's son, 3, drowns in Italy

The 3-year-old son of Deventer Statesman Zafer Aydogdu drowned in a swimming pool in Italy on Sunday. The family was holidaying in the Italian region of Tuscany. The boy was rushed to a hospital, where he passed away, De Stentor reports.

A board member of the Alevi association Haci Bektas Veli in Deventer called the death of the boy incredibly sad, emphasizing that he is not speaking for the family, according to the newspaper. According to him, the Turkish community in Deventer is shocked and in grief. Hundreds of people expressed their condolences on the association's Facebook page.

Zafer Aydogdu is a well known figure in Deventer. The historian and philosopher has been a member of the Provincial States for the PvdA since 2011. He works as a policy officer for the municipality of Deventer and has a large network within the Turkish community in the city.