Things That Can Cause Turkish People to Take Offence

Turkish people are generally curious about foreigners. When they get the chance, they often enjoy getting to know them, talking about where they come from, what brought them to Turkey, what they think of the country and what life is like back home.

Most differences in behaviour are accepted for what they are. Foreigners are not expected to know every Turkish custom, and an innocent mistake will usually be understood as exactly that.

But there is another category: things that can genuinely cause offence. And these are not necessarily about being rude. A person can be perfectly polite in the way they speak and still say or do something that a Turkish person finds offensive. It can be a comment, an attitude, an assumption, an action or a joke.

One reason for this is that the meaning of respect is not exactly the same everywhere. What a foreigner considers perfectly normal behaviour may be interpreted differently by a Turkish person.

The Turkish Flag and Patriotism

The Turkish flag carries a strong emotional meaning for many Turks. It represents the country, national identity, independence and sacrifice. Treating the flag disrespectfully, making jokes about it or using it in a way that is seen as insulting can therefore cause a strong reaction.

The same applies to Turkey itself. You do not have to love everything about the country. You can complain about bureaucracy, criticise the government, dislike the food or think something works badly. Turks do exactly the same.

But there is a difference between criticism and contempt. Saying “I don’t like this” is very different from suggesting that Turkey or Turkish people are backward, stupid or inferior.

Atatürk

For many people in Turkey, Atatürk is not simply a historical figure but the founder of the Republic and an important part of national identity.

Turkish people can and do debate his legacy. But insulting or mocking Atatürk can cause serious offence, particularly to people who hold him in high regard.

Religion

Religion can be equally sensitive, although Turkish society is far from uniform. Some Turks are deeply religious, others are strongly secular and many fall somewhere in between.

You do not have to share someone’s beliefs or avoid asking questions. But mocking Islam, religious practices, the Qur’an, mosques or someone’s personal beliefs can easily cross the line from disagreement into offence.

Politics and the President

Politics is certainly not a forbidden subject in Turkey. Turkish people can discuss and argue about politics with remarkable enthusiasm.

However, foreigners should be particularly careful when talking about the President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, especially when speaking to someone who supports the current administration. A comment that you regard as ordinary political criticism may be understood by a supporter as a personal insult against someone they strongly support.

This does not mean that you cannot discuss Turkish politics. It simply means that you should not assume everyone will interpret your comments in the same way.

Family

Family matters enormously in Turkish society. Disagreeing with someone is one thing; insulting their parents or making offensive comments about their family is something else entirely.

This can be particularly sensitive when female members of the family, such as a wife, daughter or sister, are involved, especially when speaking to men from more traditional backgrounds. What you intended as a joke may not be heard as one.

Hospitality

Hospitality is important in Turkey, and offering tea, food or help is often a genuine gesture of goodwill. The host may insist, sometimes quite strongly, but you can still refuse. What can cause offence is rejecting the offer dismissively, as though the gesture itself is unwelcome.

Neighbours

Neighbour relations have traditionally been important in Turkey, particularly in smaller towns and more traditional communities. Neighbours may know each other well, exchange food, help each other and generally keep an eye out for one another.

Keeping too much distance from your neighbours can sometimes be seen as unfriendly. This is changing, particularly in large apartment buildings and big cities, but the traditional expectation of a certain degree of neighbourliness is still very much there in many places.

Everyday Respect and Attitudes

Age, hometown, regional identity, customs and traditions can all carry more weight in Turkey than a foreigner might expect. An older person may expect a certain degree of respect, while people can also feel strongly about their hometown or region. Publicly embarrassing someone or making them lose face can also cause offence. Jokes about Turkish customs are usually fine when they are good-natured, but ridicule or sweeping comments about “Turks” can easily cross the line. The same applies to constantly comparing Turkey with your own country or behaving as though your culture is somehow superior. You do not have to agree with Turkish ways of doing things, but showing respect for people and what matters to them goes a long way.

It Depends on the Person

Of course, not every Turkish person will react in the same way. A young person in Istanbul may have very different sensitivities from an older person in a small town. A secular person may see religion very differently from someone who is deeply religious, and a supporter of the government may react very differently to political comments from someone who opposes it.

What is considered offensive can therefore depend very much on the person, their background and the situation. The point is not to assume that every Turkish person will react in the same way, but to be aware that some subjects and behaviours can carry considerably more weight in Turkey than you might expect.

Further Reading

Some other related articles to help you better understand everyday life and social behaviour in Turkey.

Things That Are Completely Normal in Turkey But Surprising to Foreigners
A look at the everyday Turkish habits and social customs that visitors often notice first.

“Hatır”, A Most Frequently Used Turkish Word With No Single English Equivalent
Hatır is among frequently used words in Turkish with no single English equivalent

Why Do Turkish People Drink So Much Tea? A Means of Social Interaction
Before asking why Turkish people drink so much of it, there is something important to know about Turkey.

Things You Might Think Are Rude in Turkey But Aren’t
Some things can feel intrusive, pushy or unusual to a foreigner while carrying a completely different meaning in Turkey.

How Are Foreigners Affected by Frequent Changes to Rules and Regulations in Turkey?
For foreigners living in, working in, buying property in or planning a future in Turkey, however the difficulty is sometimes not the change itself.