A scandal has erupted in Turkey after a tourist was filmed performing pole dancing on a flagpole bearing the Turkish flag.
The incident has sparked outrage, with many Turkish citizens condemning the act as vulgar and a “desecration of a national symbol.”
The woman, whose identity has not been revealed, reportedly carried out the sensual dance at the top of Uçhisar Castle, one of Cappadocia’s most famous landmarks. The UNESCO World Heritage site is among the most visited destinations in the region, adding to public anger.
Footage of the Turkey tourist pole dancing quickly went viral online, prompting local authorities to step in. The Nevşehir Governor’s Office announced that an official investigation has been opened into the incident. At the same time, prosecutors in Nevşehir have launched a separate inquiry under Articles 300 and 301 of the Turkish penal code, which criminalise insults against national symbols.
Turkey has a long history of prosecuting “insults” to national symbols under Articles 300 and 301 of its penal code, with penalties including prison terms. In the region more broadly, attempts to tamper with flags have even led to violence, a reminder that such stunts carry far more risk than many foreign visitors may realise.
The case is now under legal review, with authorities treating it as a matter of national sensitivity.
Nevşehir’de bir turistin Türk bayrağı direğini kullanarak direk dansı yapması üzerine, Valilik konuyla ilgili harekete geçti. Olay kamuoyunda tepki çekerken, söz konusu turist hakkında adli soruşturma başlatıldığı bildirildi. pic.twitter.com/uf4fnkYrow
— BTG (@btgsondakika) August 21, 2025
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