Turkey: Iran man arrested for hanging towel with British flag on national holiday

An Iranian national has been arrested following complaints from neighbours after he displayed a towel with a British flag on his balcony in the Turkish city of Kayseri on Tuesday.

According to DHA News Agency, Iranian Mohammad Reza K, who has been living in Kayseri for five months, was taken to the police station following complaints from residents after he placed a towel with a Union flag on it on his balcony while Turks marked the Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day.

Outraged residents noticed the flag as they sang the national anthem from their balconies and reported it to the police.

"Söz konusu havluyu kurutmak için balkonuna astığını iddia eden yabancı uyruklu şahıs hakkında gerekli yasal işlemler başlatılmıştır"

Kayseri'de balkonuna Birleşik Krallık bayrağı desenli havlu asan İranlı gözaltına alındı: https://t.co/b9CUzzYhQ8 pic.twitter.com/kg9EaiiFPV

— BBC News Türkçe (@bbcturkce) May 20, 2020

“I hung my wet towel on the balcony to dry. I never had any provocative intention,” said Reza during the investigation, he was later released, and the towel was seized.

In a statement by the Governor’s Office said:  “Our citizens … deemed the display of the foreign flag to be a provocative action, upon this, as a result of complaints, the man was investigated, the towel was seized and the necessary legal action was launched.”

READ: Turkey policeman arrested for killing Syria teen