A Russian couple who traveled to Turkey for vacation were arrested after they kissed inside the Çamlıca Mosque in Istanbul. The tourists were in the inner courtyard and decided to hug and kiss, provoking strong anger among those present.
Police arrested the tourists, who are now awaiting trial. The charge is serious: insulting “religious values.”
Under Turkish law, this offense carries a prison sentence of 6 months to 1 year.
The Çamlıca Mosque is located in Istanbul and is the largest mosque in the country by size. It has a capacity of 63,000 people and includes within its facilities a museum, an art gallery, a library, a conference center, and an underground parking lot for 3,500 vehicles.
🇹🇷 Russian tourists in Istanbul may face jail for kissing in a mosque
A couple from Russia came on vacation and decided to visit the Çamlıca Mosque. In the inner courtyard, they hugged and kissed — provoking strong outrage from local residents.
Police detained the tourists, and… pic.twitter.com/zcQ2Rof6N7
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) September 6, 2025
