thisisturkey.info

Terrorism

There is a high threat from terrorism in Turkey.  We believe that international terrorist groups, as well as indigenous ones, are currently active in Turkey.  As in previous years, after a lull over the winter months the PKK has resumed its terrorist campaign for the summer period.  Attacks have taken place against government and security targets but also in restaurants, public transport and other public places.

On 20 November 2003, terrorist attacks (believed to have been committed by individuals associated with Al-Qaida) against the British Consulate-General and the headquarters of HSBC in Istanbul caused 33 deaths and injured hundreds.  On 15 November 2003, bomb attacks on two synagogues in Istanbul killed 23 people and wounded more than 300.

Since the November 2003 attacks, other terrorist groups have been responsible for a number of explosions in locations across Turkey including in Istanbul, Izmir, Mersin, Cesme,  Antalya, Kusadasi, Marmaris and Ankara.  Whilst many were primarily small scale in nature, some incidents resulted in fatalities.  Targets included buses and mini-buses (dolmuş) and sites, such as banks, restaurants and hotels, linked to Western interests as well as to the Turkish State.  There was a suicide attack in Ankara on 22 May 2007, which killed eight people and wounded about eighty.  You should remain vigilant in public places in tourist areas, major cities and elsewhere.

Examples of recent incidents in the Mediterranean and Aegean Tourist areas include:

And in July 2005, an explosion on a minibus (dolmuş) in the resort of Kusadasi killed five people including one British National, and injured 18 people including one British National.

Incidents in Istanbul have taken place in the districts of Sultanahmet, Eminonu, Bagcilar and Bakirkoy.  Recent examples include:

South East Turkey

Terrorist incidents in the south east of Turkey perpetrated by the PKK/Kongra-Gel, a Kurdish separatist terrorist organisation, have increased in recent years. There have been frequent bomb and mine attacks on military personnel and convoys.  There is a need for increased vigilance in this area.  Security forces, who actively pursue the terrorists, operate restrictions on movement in areas bordering Iraq.  You risk arrest if you fail to comply with these restrictions. Recent incidents affecting civilians include:

You should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.  Please read Security and General Tips and the Risk of Terrorism when Travelling Overseas for further information and advice.

Crime

On 4 February 2006, a Catholic priest was murdered in Trabzon, and on 18 April 2007, three people, including one foreign national were murdered in a Christian publishing house in Malatya.

Street robbery and pickpocketing are common in the major tourist areas of Istanbul.  You should be wary of approaches from strangers offering to change money or offering food and drink, which may be drugged.

A number of sexual assaults have been reported in coastal tourist areas (eg Marmaris, Fethiye, Bodrum, Antalya, Izmir).  You are therefore advised to maintain at least the same level of personal security awareness as in the UK.  We advise lone visitors, in particular, never to accept lifts from strangers or passing acquaintances at any time.

 

For more general advice see the: Victims of Crime Abroad

Political Situation

Turkey is a stable democracy.  Demonstrations occur regularly in major cities. The political atmosphere is heightened in the run up to elections on the 22 July 2007. You are advised to avoid any areas where demonstrations are taking place.

Turkey Country Profile

Local Travel

Security Forces continue to enforce restrictions upon movement in areas bordering Iraq.  You risk arrest if you fail to comply with these restrictions.

Road Safety

You should take particular care when travelling by road throughout Turkey, as road conditions and driving standards can be poor.  Serious traffic accidents are common particularly at night.

If you wish to drive in Turkey, you are required to carry either an International Driving License issued in the UK or a notarised copy, in Turkish, of your Driving License.  Please note provisional driving licences are not recognised. An 'A' category standard motorcycle licence is required to hire motorcycles over 50cc in Turkey.  An 'A1' category 'light motorcycle' driving licence is only suitable for motorcycles below 50cc. It is against the law not to wear a helmet.

Contravention of the above could result in a heavy fine.

Do not drink and drive.  The Police will breathalyse drunk drivers, fine them on the spot (currently 448 YTL) and immediately confiscate their licence for six months.

Rail Safety

The vast majority of train journeys in Turkey are trouble free.  However, there have been accidents.  On 22 July 2004, 38 people were killed and over 80 were injured when a high-speed train derailed on the line between Istanbul and Ankara. 

Turkey has strict laws against the use, possession or trafficking of illegal drugs.  If you are convicted of any of these offences, you can expect to receive a heavy fine or a prison sentence of four to 24 years.

 

The export of antiquities is prohibited and carries a prison sentence from five to ten years.

 

The use of metal detectors is against the law.

 

Dress modestly if visiting a mosque or a religious shrine.

 

Do not take photographs near military or official installations.  You should seek permission before photographing individuals.

 

Homosexuality is not illegal but is not widely tolerated:  public displays of affection could result in prosecution for public order offences.

 

It is an offence to insult the Turkish nation or the national flag, or to deface or tear up currency.

Visas

 

A visa is required for British nationals to enter Turkey.  British citizens may obtain a multiple entry visitor's visa valid for 90 days at the port of entry on payment of ten pounds sterling in cash (Scottish currency is not accepted).  If you are a BN(O) passport holder and you arrive at Istanbul airport without a visa obtained from a Turkish mission abroad, you may be refused entry to Turkey.  For further information on entry requirements, you should check with with:  Turkish representation in UK

 

If you take employment without the appropriate permission, you may be escorted from the country by the police authorities or, in some cases, deported.

 

If you stay in Turkey longer than your visa allows, you will be liable to pay a substantial fine upon departure.  This varies according to how long you have overstayed.  From the moment you have overstayed your visa the minimum fine is 98.40 YLT, rising incrementally each day to 193.20 YTL for an overstay of one month.  If you stay longer than one month the fine increases substantially.

Your passport should be valid for at least six months on entry into Turkey.

If a parent travels on his/her own with a dual national Turkish child, written permission from the Turkish parent, certified by a notary, must be shown to the immigration authorities on departure, otherwise the child will not be permitted to leave Turkey.

Do not travel without comprehensive medical insurance (including cover for medical repatriation), as private medical treatment is very expensive.  You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake.  Please see:  Travel Insurance.  The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which concerns free medical treatment in EU countries is not valid in Turkey.  The EHIC has now replaced form E111.

 

Please refer to the Embassy website for details of English speaking hospitals and doctors, http://britishembassy.org.tr.

 

You should seek medical advice before travelling and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up to date, especially if you intend to visit rural areas.  For further information on health, check the Dept of Health's website at:  www.dh.gov.uk.

Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)

In February 2007, Turkish Authorities confirmed a number of outbreaks of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) in the Batman and Diyarbakir provinces, South East Turkey. In January 2006 outbreaks of Avian Influenza in Turkey resulted in four deaths in eastern Turkey, believed to have arisen through close contact with infected poultry.   Since the end of 2003, a number of human deaths have also occurred in Azerbaijan, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Laos, Nigeria, Thailand and Vietnam.

 

The risk to humans from Avian Influenza is believed to be low.  However, as a precaution you should avoid visiting live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where you may come into close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds; and ensure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked.

 

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned of the possibility that the Avian Influenza outbreaks could lead at some point to a human flu pandemic, if the virus mutates to a form, which is easily transmittable between people.

 

British nationals living longer term in Turkey should take personal responsibility for their own safety in the event of a future pandemic, including considering their access to adequate healthcare and ensuring travel documents are up to date.

 

Many parts of Turkey lie on a major seismic fault line and are subject to earthquakes and tremors.  In August 1999 an earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter Scale resulted in over 17,000 deaths when it struck Izmit, a town 55 miles south of Istanbul.

If things go wrong when overseas, please see: What We Can Do To Help

 

In addition to the Embassy in Ankara there are Consulates in Istanbul, Izmir and Antalya and honorary Consulates in Adana, Bodrum, Fethiye, Marmaris and Bursa. Full contact details are on the Embassy website, http://britishembassy.org.tr.

 

Residents or long term visitors should register with the Embassy/nearest Consulate on arrival, but there is no need for short-term visitors to do so.

 

The British Embassy in Ankara, the Consulates in Istanbul, Izmir and Antayla and Honorary Consulates in Bodrum, Marmaris and Fethiye can provide Emergency Passport services. Full passport services are available at the British Embassy in Ankara and the Consulate in Istanbul.  Applications may be lodged, however, at Izmir, Antayla, Bodrum, Marmaris and Fethiye.

 

It is illegal not to carry some form of photographic ID in Turkey.  It is therefore advisable to carry a photocopy of your passport with you at all times.

ATMs are widely available in major cities and tourist areas.  Local currency can also be obtained from banks and exchange bureaux, known as DOVIZ in Turkish.