British tourist arrested in Alanya for spitting on Turkish flag

A 58‑year‑old British tourist was taken into custody on Tuesday in Alanya, a resort town on Turkey’s central Mediterranean coast, after authorities said he spat on a Turkish flag. Police identified the man at a public square and arrested him on charges of insulting a state symbol, a violation that carries a potential prison sentence under Turkish law.

The incident has prompted a diplomatic note from the British embassy, which confirmed consular assistance is being provided while the case proceeds through the Turkish judicial system. Under Turkey’s penal code, offenses against national symbols can result in up to two years’ imprisonment, and the tourist is expected to appear before a local court within the next week. The arrest underscores Turkey’s strict enforcement of laws protecting state symbols and highlights the legal risks faced by foreign visitors who breach them.