Published on 10/09/2026 – 9:53 GMT+2
By Kamuran Samar for Euronews Turkish
Turkish law enforcement apprehended a British visitor in the coastal city of Alanya on Wednesday, accusing him of spitting upon the national flag.
ADVERTISEMENT
According to reports from DHA and IHA news agencies, the 58-year-old guest engaged in a dispute with hotel personnel before allegedly turning around and expectorating onto a flag displayed in the lobby. The agencies did not specify the exact date of the incident.
Upon being informed by the hotel staff, authorities detained the individual and transported him to the Alanya courthouse, where he was officially taken into custody on charges of insulting or degrading a symbol of the Turkish state.
He was subsequently remanded and transferred to a correctional facility located just outside the city limits.
The British consulate had not issued an immediate response to the situation.
Article 300 of the Turkish penal code explicitly prohibits the public disrespect of the nation’s flag, an offense that carries a potential prison sentence of up to three years.
ADVERTISEMENT
In August 2025, legal authorities initiated a criminal probe against a visitor from Bosnia and Herzegovina after she performed a pole dance on a Turkish flagpole in the Cappadocia region and shared the video on social media. The resolution of that case remains undisclosed.
Also Read
- Harnessing AI to Regulate the Mindfulness–Mindlessness Balance
- EU Agriculture Commissioner Hansen Acknowledges Limited Funds for Farmers Amid Summer Crisis
- TSA Introduces Gateside Program Restoring Non‑Ticketed Gate Access for Trusted Travelers
- Trump says every adult American would get $5,000 if Republicans win midterms