Turkish police have warned a female tourist that she could face a five-year prison sentence for her disrespectful actions towards the country’s national flag.
Merjem, a tourist from Bosnia and Herzegovina, has been accused of insulting Turkey’s national symbols. In a short video she uploaded, she was seen pole dancing around a flagpole at Uchisar Castle in Cappadocia. In the video, she is seen climbing the pole below the national flag and performing professional dance moves at sunset.
After receiving negative feedback, Merjem responded to her online critics by calling them “petty.” She insisted that all the Turks present were “amazed” by her performance.
However, authorities in the Nevsehir region of Turkey have launched a criminal investigation into the incident. Merjem could face up to five years in prison for two separate offenses.
Emre Caliskan, a local member of parliament from the conservative AK Party in Nevsehir, stated that showing disrespect for national values and spirit is “completely unacceptable.”
“We will be closely monitoring to ensure that the necessary legal action is taken against this individual. We have zero tolerance for any disrespect towards the nation’s values,” said Emre.
The Nevsehir Governor’s Office confirmed that a criminal complaint was filed and prosecutors have opened an investigation under two separate articles of the Turkish Criminal Code. A spokesperson said that the Nevsehir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has initiated a criminal investigation against the foreign national under Articles 300 and 301 of the Turkish Criminal Code.
According to Article 300 of the Turkish Criminal Code, acts that show contempt or disrespect for the Turkish flag can be punishable by up to three years in prison. Violations include “tearing, burning, or similar actions.” In 2021, a court in the southern Turkish province of Adana ordered the arrest of a woman for removing the Turkish flag that was hanging outside a store and throwing it into a nearby trash can.
Meanwhile, Article 301 specifies penalties for insulting the Turkish nation and its related bodies, with a maximum sentence of two years in prison.
Uchisar Castle in Cappadocia is located on a natural rock formation and is known as the highest peak in the area. Those who climb the 60-meter-high rock will be treated to a breathtaking panoramic view of the surrounding landscape.
(According to Daily Star)
