Anyone know the rules in Turkey?

[nohope587]

I have a very short notice work trip to Turkey tomorrow and thought it might be a great place to detect but I don't know what the rules/laws are there and don't have the time tonight to do any in depth research. Does anyone here know off the top of their heads what I can and can't do there. I'll check back later this evening.

Thank You

[Dustyloins]

IF your detector makes it pass customs, unauthorized MDing carries a 2-5 year jail vacation ala "Midnight Express".....(so I've been told).

Dusty

[Kolby72]

Yep I had orders to Turkey and its strictly forbidden

[Rudy]

http://www.turkishclass.com/forumTitle_36806

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?55,982216

[simonthesearcher]

Dont even think of it

[joee5]

Yeah, DUCK!!!

[drewwski]

I spent two years there and you definately don't want to try it. We wouldn't even buy the Roman and crusader coins from the kids out in the middle of no where. The whole country is pretty much a museum and it is understandable that after a great deal of artifacts were plundered they don't want more to dissapear.

It is a great country to visit though and you should have fun. I was in Adana Turkey and we used to find castles and other sites that were just there...no one charging admission, had alot of fun crawling around these and would of loved to have been able to metal detect.

[se7en]

When i was in the navy we were told never touch anything there that is not yours, they have some harsh laws on anything they consider stealing, and being in their country they get to decide what stealing is.

[Rudy]

Instead of detecting, take a tour of the Topkapi Palace and admire what unlimited wealth can get for you. Don't forego oogling at some of the bling they have on display.

If you have extra time then also go see the Dolmabahce Palace as well.

I am assuming you are going to be in Istanbul when you are there. Istanbul is a lovely city that can keep you occupied for months.

Topkapi Palace


Dolmabahce Palace

[njal]

Just like Dusty said watch Midnight Express then leave your detector home.

[nohope587]

Its staying miles away from my bag... I saw Midnight Express a long time ago and its still vivid in my memory... I'll stick to the touristy stuff and sampling the local cuisine

[njal]

There ya go ! Have a good trip haha!

[jmorton04]

have a tendency to disapear once they are incarcerated in Turkey. An aquaintance of mine claims he worked for the US navy in Turkey. He kept informants inside the Turkish law inforcement structure. If an American service person was suspected of breaking Turkish laws, the informant was supposed to call him and he and some of his crew would try to get to the service person before the Turks did. If they did so, they just kidnapped the person and dependents, threw them into a van and went straight to a waiting plane. Some people left Turkey wearing their BVDs or a bed sheet.
I don't know if his story is true, but based on what I see and hear in the Kuwait media, I would guess that most places in the middle east are not a good place to get caught doing anything that might be construed as theft or tampering with antiquities.
I have also been told that tourists who get off the main highways in KSA are often robbed and killed by 'bandits'.
Let's be careful out there!
HH,
John Morton

[nohope587]

Trabzon is a nice town if not a little run down. Plenty to see and do but I have resisted the temptation of buying antiques at the Russian bazaar...

[drewwski]

Originally Posted by jmorton04

have a tendency to disapear once they are incarcerated in Turkey. An aquaintance of mine claims he worked for the US navy in Turkey. He kept informants inside the Turkish law inforcement structure. If an American service person was suspected of breaking Turkish laws, the informant was supposed to call him and he and some of his crew would try to get to the service person before the Turks did. If they did so, they just kidnapped the person and dependents, threw them into a van and went straight to a waiting plane. Some people left Turkey wearing their BVDs or a bed sheet.
I don't know if his story is true, but based on what I see and hear in the Kuwait media, I would guess that most places in the middle east are not a good place to get caught doing anything that might be construed as theft or tampering with antiquities.
I have also been told that tourists who get off the main highways in KSA are often robbed and killed by 'bandits'.
Let's be careful out there!
HH,
John Morton

I was stationed in Turkey for two years in the early 90s and we did have an individual in our squadron who was involved in a traffic accident with a Turkish guy on a moped who was killed in the accident. The American was "evacuated" from the country with his family within 24hrs, We never heard any more details of how it was handled diplomatically.

About a year after this I was in a taxi that hit a lady crossing the street in Mersin Turkey on New Years day. The lady was concious when I got out of the vehicle, but obviously had a broken leg. I stayed with her until several bystanders came over, the taxi driver stayed in the car. Once others arrived I slipped out of crowd and ran about 2 miles to the bus stop. I would most likely have been held partially responsible for hiring the taxi driver to drive down the street. Turkey was a great country, but had some strange laws.

Every item I brought into the country was documented, and when I left two years later I had to have posession of everyone of those items. So for instance your tv craps out after a month, you get to hold onto it for two years. They would even document items like blenders and toasters...Crazy

[jmorton04]

I have been told that here in Q8, that if you happen upon an accident and render aid to a victim, and the victim later dies, you are considered responsible for the death. Doesn't matter if you were miles away when the accident actually occurred.

I do not know the laws in other M.E. countries, but I suspect that you would be subject to the whim of the local law enforcement & judicial system.

The society I grew up in (USA)pretty much runs based on money and rules. Over here things run based on power and connections.

It came out in the news today that KSA actually has no LAWS against women driving. However, to prevent "SIN", she would be detained and taken before a judge for punishment. the judge has the power to drop the "case" or sentence her.

http://www.arabtimesonline.com/NewsD...-/Default.aspx

Sorry for dragging this thread so far off the issue of detecting in Turkey. I thought that it might be interesting to those who consider foreign travel.
HH,
John Morton