British Tourist Arrested in Turkey After Allegedly Spitting on Turkish Flag

Stay connected to Greek City Times for Free on Google News
Click NOW

A 58-year-old British tourist has been arrested in the Turkish resort city of Alanya after allegedly spitting on a Turkish flag following an argument with hotel staff.

According to Turkish media reports, the incident occurred at a hotel in Alanya on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast.

The man reportedly became involved in a dispute with hotel employees before allegedly turning towards a Turkish flag displayed in the hotel lobby and spitting on it.

Hotel staff subsequently reported the incident to police.

Turkish authorities detained the tourist and took him to the Alanya courthouse, where he was formally arrested on allegations of insulting or degrading a symbol of the Turkish state.

He was remanded in custody and transferred to a prison outside Alanya.

There was no immediate statement from the British Embassy regarding the arrest.

Turkey’s strict laws on disrespecting the flag

The arrest follows Turkey’s strict laws concerning the Turkish national flag.

Article 300 of Turkey’s Penal Code criminalises publicly disrespecting the Turkish flag. A conviction can carry a prison sentence of up to three years.

The law has previously been applied in cases involving foreign tourists.

In August 2025, Turkish prosecutors reportedly opened a criminal investigation into a tourist from Bosnia and Herzegovina after she performed a pole dance on a Turkish flagpole in Cappadocia and posted footage of the incident on social media.

The outcome of that case was not immediately clear.

The latest arrest highlights the potential legal consequences for tourists who engage in conduct that Turkish authorities consider disrespectful towards national symbols.

Stay updated with the latest news from Greece and around the world on greekcitytimes.com.
Contact our newsroom to share your updates, stories, photos, or videos. Follow GCT on Google News and Apple News.