Assaulted in Turkey as a foreigner? Learn how to file a criminal complaint, obtain a medical report, preserve CCTV evidence, claim material and moral compensation, and protect your rights under Turkish law.

A foreign victim of assault in Turkey has the right to report the incident, participate in the criminal proceedings and pursue compensation regardless of whether the victim is a tourist, resident, employee, investor or business owner. An assault may occur in a hotel, nightclub, restaurant, workplace, taxi, residential complex, commercial meeting or simply during an argument in a public place. The most important mistake after an assault is concentrating only on identifying the attacker while allowing critical evidence to disappear. A foreign victim should consider the criminal complaint, medical evidence, CCTV recordings, witnesses, photographs, digital communications and financial consequences of the injury from the beginning. Where compensation will also be claimed, evidence concerning hospital expenses, inability to work, cancelled travel, permanent injury and psychological or personal consequences should be preserved. In serious cases, the victim may therefore need to pursue two connected objectives: criminal accountability for the attacker and financial compensation for the damage caused by the assault.

Can a Foreigner File a Criminal Complaint in Turkey?

Yes. Foreign nationality does not prevent a person who has been assaulted in Turkey from reporting an alleged crime to the Turkish authorities.

The victim’s immigration status and nationality should not be confused with the question of whether an offense has been committed.

A foreign tourist visiting Turkey for several days can therefore report an assault just as a foreign resident can.

Where Can an Assault Be Reported?

Depending on the circumstances, the incident can be reported to the police, gendarmerie or competent public prosecutor’s office.

Where immediate assistance is necessary, law-enforcement authorities should be contacted promptly.

Do Not Wait Until You Return Home

A foreign tourist may think:

“I will report everything after returning to my country.”

That can create serious evidentiary difficulties. The alleged attacker may become harder to identify, CCTV may be overwritten, witnesses may disappear and injuries may heal before being formally documented.

Obtain a Medical Report Immediately

Medical evidence is one of the most important components of an assault investigation.

The report can document the nature and seriousness of the injury and may affect the criminal classification of the incident.

TCK Article 86 and Intentional Injury

Assault cases involving intentional physical injury are generally examined primarily under Article 86 of the Turkish Penal Code, while more serious consequences may bring Article 87 and other relevant provisions into consideration.

The legal consequences therefore depend significantly on what injuries were caused and how the attack occurred.

A Bruise and a Serious Fracture Are Not Legally Identical

The seriousness of the medical consequences matters.

An injury capable of being treated through simple medical intervention presents a different legal situation from an injury involving a fracture, permanent impairment or life-threatening consequences.

TCK Article 87 and Serious Consequences

Where intentional injury produces certain aggravated consequences, TCK Article 87 may become relevant.

For this reason, obtaining accurate medical documentation is not merely important for treatment. It can directly affect the criminal proceedings.

Broken Bones

Where the victim suffers a fracture, the location and seriousness of the fracture should be properly documented.

Permanent Scarring

A lasting facial injury or other permanent consequence can also become significant.

Loss of Function

Where an attack causes permanent or substantial loss of bodily function, the medical and compensation dimensions of the case become considerably more serious.

Do Not Rely Only on Emergency-Room Records

Depending on the injury, subsequent specialist reports, imaging results, surgery records and follow-up examinations may become important.

Photograph the Injuries

Bruises, swelling, cuts and other visible injuries can change dramatically within several days.

Clear photographs taken soon after the incident can therefore support the medical documentation.

Preserve the Original Photographs

Do not merely keep compressed copies transmitted through messaging applications.

CCTV Evidence Can Determine What Actually Happened

Many assault cases involve conflicting stories.

The alleged attacker says:

“The foreigner attacked me first.”

The victim says:

“I was attacked without provocation.”

CCTV can sometimes resolve the dispute.

Request Preservation Immediately

Hotel, restaurant, nightclub, shopping-center and business security systems may not retain recordings indefinitely.

A preservation request should therefore be considered urgently.

Look Beyond the Exact Location of the Assault

Suppose the attack occurred outside a restaurant.

Useful recordings may exist at the restaurant entrance, neighboring shop, hotel across the street, parking facility or nearby building.

Reconstruct the Route

Identify where the attacker and victim were immediately before and after the incident.

Hotel Assault Cases

Where the assault occurred at a hotel, identify reception, corridor, elevator, lobby, restaurant, pool and entrance cameras that may have recorded relevant events.

Nightclub Assault Cases

Nightclub incidents can be particularly difficult because of poor lighting, crowds and alcohol consumption.

Multiple cameras should be identified.

Security Staff May Be Witnesses

Hotel or nightclub security personnel may have seen the confrontation or intervened afterward.

Their identities should be established promptly.

Smartphone Videos

Other tourists or customers may have filmed the incident.

Obtain their contact details before they leave.

Social Media Evidence

Videos of public fights sometimes appear on social media shortly after the incident.

Relevant material should be preserved as evidence where appropriate.

Identify Witnesses Immediately

Witnesses are particularly important in cases involving foreign tourists because they may leave Turkey within days.

Record available contact information.

Foreign Witnesses Can Still Be Relevant

A witness living in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the United States or another country does not automatically become irrelevant merely because they are no longer physically in Turkey.

The practical procedure for obtaining evidence may need separate consideration.

What Should the Criminal Complaint Contain?

The complaint should reconstruct the event chronologically.

Instead of merely saying:

“He assaulted me.”

explain:

Location → Argument or Initial Contact → First Physical Attack → Continued Assault → Intervention → Injuries → Hospital → Available Evidence.

Identify the Attacker Where Possible

Provide the person’s name if known.

If the identity is unknown, describe the available identifying information.

Unknown Attacker

A victim can still report the incident even if they do not know the attacker’s name.

CCTV, hotel records, vehicle information, witness statements and other evidence may assist identification.

Hotel Guest Records

Where another guest allegedly committed the assault, relevant accommodation information may assist the investigation subject to lawful investigative procedures.

Vehicle Information

If the attacker left in a vehicle, preserve the license plate where known.

Taxi Assault

Where the incident involves a taxi driver or passenger, vehicle and journey information can become important.

Preserve Payment Records

Card payments or booking records may assist identification.

Assault by a Tour Guide or Driver

Preserve booking confirmations, company communications and payment records.

Assault During a Business Meeting

Foreign investors and executives may become involved in physical confrontations arising from commercial disputes.

Preserve emails, meeting invitations and communications showing why the parties met.

WhatsApp Messages Before the Assault

Messages can demonstrate the background of the confrontation.

Threats Before the Attack

If the attacker sent threats before the physical assault, preserve the complete conversation.

Threats After the Attack

These can also become important evidence.

Do Not Reply With Threats

A victim who responds aggressively can create unnecessary additional allegations.

Voice Messages

Preserve original WhatsApp or other voice messages.

Anonymous Threats After the Assault

If threatening communications begin from unknown numbers after the criminal complaint, document and report them appropriately.

What If the Attacker Claims Self-Defense?

This is common.

The investigation should determine who initiated the unlawful attack and whether any responsive force was legally justified.

CCTV Can Become Decisive

The victim’s own statement should be compared with objective evidence.

Injuries on Both Parties

The fact that the alleged attacker also suffered injuries does not automatically prove self-defense.

A physical confrontation must be reconstructed as a sequence rather than assessed only by comparing injuries.

Example

Attacker punches victim → victim pushes attacker away → attacker falls → attacker resumes assault.

Both individuals may have injuries, but the legal analysis cannot simply conclude that both were equally responsible.

Mutual Fight Allegation

The prosecution should determine the conduct of each participant separately.

Weapon Used During the Assault

If a knife, bottle, glass, stick or another object was used, this should be stated clearly and supported with evidence where possible.

Do Not Handle the Object Unnecessarily

Physical evidence should be preserved properly.

Serious Assault

Where the attack involves stabbing, repeated blows to the head, potentially lethal conduct or severe injuries, the legal characterization may extend beyond a straightforward intentional-injury allegation.

Attempted Homicide May Need Examination

The distinction between intentional injury and attempted homicide can depend on factors such as the weapon used, targeted body area, severity and number of blows, statements during the attack and surrounding circumstances.

Filing a Complaint Does Not Automatically Mean the Attacker Will Be Arrested

This distinction is important.

A criminal complaint begins or contributes to an investigation. Detention or arrest requires separate criminal-procedure conditions.

Victim Should Focus on Evidence

Demanding that the police “arrest him immediately” is less useful than identifying CCTV, medical evidence and witnesses capable of proving the allegation.

Victim Statement

The foreign victim should provide a clear chronological account.

Interpreter Assistance

Where the victim does not sufficiently understand Turkish, appropriate interpretation is particularly important.

Never Sign a Statement You Do Not Understand

The victim should understand what has been recorded before signing.

Check Names and Dates

Errors concerning location, time, attacker identity or sequence of events can later create unnecessary disputes.

Criminal Complaint and Compensation Are Different

A criminal prosecution seeks to determine criminal responsibility.

A compensation claim focuses on the damage suffered by the victim.

These objectives can overlap but should not be confused.

Can a Foreign Assault Victim Claim Compensation in Turkey?

Potentially, yes.

Under Turkish private law, a person who unlawfully and culpably causes damage to another can be required to compensate that damage. Article 49 of the Turkish Code of Obligations (TBK) provides the fundamental framework for tort liability.

Where physical injury has occurred, the categories of recoverable loss should be evaluated according to the circumstances.

Medical Expenses

Reasonable treatment-related expenses resulting from the assault may form part of the claimed financial damage.

Future Treatment Costs

A serious injury may require future surgery, physiotherapy, rehabilitation or other medical care.

These potential costs should be documented medically.

Loss of Earnings

A victim unable to work because of the injury may suffer financial loss.

Foreign Salary Can Matter

A foreign victim earning income abroad should preserve documents establishing actual earnings.

Preserve Payroll Records

Employment contracts, payslips, tax documents and employer statements can become important.

Self-Employed Victims

Business owners and independent professionals may need different evidence to establish income loss.

Do Not Simply Claim an Arbitrary Daily Amount

Financial loss should be supported by objective evidence wherever possible.

Temporary Incapacity

A victim may be unable to work for several weeks or months.

This period can become relevant to compensation.

Permanent Loss of Earning Capacity

More serious injuries may permanently affect the victim’s ability to work.

This can substantially increase the economic significance of the case.

TBK Article 54

In bodily-injury cases, TBK Article 54 is particularly important for determining categories of financial damage.

Depending on the circumstances, treatment expenses, loss of earnings, losses arising from reduction or loss of working capacity and losses affecting economic future may require consideration.

Economic Future

An injury may have consequences beyond immediate salary loss.

A professional model suffering permanent facial scarring or an athlete suffering permanent physical impairment may experience broader career consequences.

Each Case Requires Individual Calculation

Compensation should not be determined through a generic formula detached from the victim’s age, occupation, income and medical condition.

Moral Compensation

Physical assault can also cause significant non-economic harm.

TBK Article 56 provides the legal framework for moral compensation in cases involving bodily injury and certain related circumstances.

Moral Compensation Is Not a Fixed Tariff

There is no universal rule stating that a broken nose automatically equals a particular amount.

The court evaluates the circumstances of the case.

Relevant Circumstances

The seriousness of the attack, nature of the injury, duration of treatment, permanent consequences and overall impact on the victim may become relevant.

Psychological Consequences

A violent assault may cause fear, anxiety or other psychological effects.

Where these consequences are significant, appropriate medical documentation can become important.

Psychiatric or Psychological Treatment Records

Preserve genuine treatment documentation where relevant.

Cancelled Holiday

A tourist may lose part of a holiday because of hospitalization or treatment.

Whether particular financial losses are recoverable depends on causation and proof.

Cancelled Flight

If medical circumstances force the victim to change flights, preserve the original ticket, replacement ticket and medical documentation explaining why travel had to change.

Additional Hotel Expenses

Extended accommodation necessitated by medical treatment should likewise be documented.

Family Member Travel Costs

In serious injury cases, relatives may travel to Turkey to assist the victim.

Whether particular expenses can be recovered requires individual legal assessment, but documentation should be preserved.

Property Damage During the Assault

The attack may also damage a telephone, glasses, watch, clothing or other property.

Photograph the damage and preserve repair or replacement documentation.

Do Not Throw Away Damaged Property Immediately

It may itself provide evidence.

Foreign Medical Treatment After Returning Home

A tourist may receive initial emergency treatment in Turkey and continue treatment abroad.

Preserve the foreign medical records and invoices.

Translation May Be Necessary

Documents intended for Turkish proceedings may require appropriate translation and procedural handling.

Permanent Injury Assessment

Where the victim alleges lasting impairment, the compensation claim should not necessarily be finalized before the medical position becomes sufficiently clear.

Medical Stabilization Matters

Serious injuries can evolve over time.

Expert Examination

Medical and actuarial expertise may become important when determining permanent impairment and future financial loss.

Insurance

Depending on the circumstances, insurance arrangements may also become relevant to particular expenses or losses.

However, the attacker’s civil liability and an insurer’s contractual obligations are separate questions.

Assault by an Employee

If the attacker was acting within an employment context, potential responsibility beyond the individual attacker may require separate analysis under the circumstances.

Assault by Security Personnel

Where hotel, nightclub or private security staff allegedly assault a foreign customer, both criminal responsibility and potential civil liability issues may arise.

Preserve the Employer Relationship

Identify the security company and establishment involved.

Excessive Force

Security personnel do not receive unlimited authority to use violence merely because they are responsible for maintaining order.

Assault in a Hotel

A hotel is not automatically responsible for every altercation between guests.

However, the particular facts should be examined where allegations concern employees, security failures or other conduct potentially attributable to the establishment.

Do Not Assume Institutional Liability

It must be legally established.

Criminal Case and Civil Compensation Case

Depending on the circumstances, the victim may pursue compensation through the appropriate civil-law mechanisms while the criminal proceedings determine the attacker’s criminal responsibility.

Should the Victim Wait for the Criminal Case to Finish?

Not automatically.

Limitation periods, evidence and procedural strategy should be evaluated independently.

Criminal Judgment Can Be Important

Findings and evidence produced during criminal proceedings may significantly affect the compensation dispute, although criminal and civil proceedings should not be treated as identical.

Preserve the Criminal File Number

This will be important when following the investigation from abroad.

Tourist Returns Home

Returning to another country does not automatically terminate the victim’s rights.

The Turkish criminal investigation can continue.

Representation From Abroad

Where legally and procedurally appropriate, a foreign victim may be represented in Turkey without personally handling every procedural step.

Power of Attorney

The form and authentication requirements should be determined according to where the document is executed and what proceedings will be pursued.

Do Not Lose Contact With the Investigation

Foreign victims sometimes file a complaint and assume the authorities will automatically contact them abroad about everything.

The file should be monitored.

Address Changes

Updated contact information should be properly handled.

Participation in Criminal Proceedings

Victims have procedural rights under the Turkish Criminal Procedure Code. CMK Article 234 and related provisions contain important rules concerning the rights of victims and complainants during investigation and prosecution.

Evidence Requests

Relevant evidence should be identified as early as possible.

Do Not Assume the Prosecutor Knows Every Camera Exists

Provide concrete information.

Example CCTV Request

Instead of saying “obtain camera footage,” identify the hotel, entrance, approximate camera location and relevant time range.

Compensation Evidence File

A separate financial file should be created from the beginning.

Medical Expense File

Preserve hospital invoices, medication receipts, physiotherapy costs and related documentation.

Income Loss File

Preserve salary and employment records.

Travel Loss File

Preserve flight, hotel and transportation expenses caused by the injury.

Permanent Injury File

Preserve specialist reports, imaging and rehabilitation records.

Property Damage File

Preserve invoices, photographs and repair records.

Moral Damage File

Preserve evidence demonstrating the seriousness and continuing effects of the incident where appropriate.

Foreign Currency Losses

Foreign victims may incur expenses in EUR, GBP, USD or another currency.

Keep original invoices showing the actual amount and currency paid.

Do Not Convert Everything Informally

Original financial documentation is preferable.

What If the Attacker Has No Money?

Winning compensation and collecting compensation are different stages.

The defendant’s assets may become relevant to enforcement.

Asset Investigation

Where significant compensation is sought, the practical ability to enforce a judgment should be considered.

Property and Bank Assets

Appropriate enforcement mechanisms may become relevant following an enforceable award or judgment.

Settlement

Some cases may involve settlement discussions depending on the offense, procedural status and civil claims.

Do Not Accept an Informal Cash Payment Without Understanding Its Consequences

A victim should understand whether any document being signed contains a waiver, settlement or withdrawal language.

Complaint Withdrawal

The consequences depend on the particular offense.

Withdrawal does not automatically terminate every criminal investigation.

Do Not Sign Turkish Documents You Cannot Read

This applies particularly to settlement documents prepared shortly after an assault.

False Promises

An attacker may say:

“Withdraw your complaint and I will pay your hospital costs next month.”

A foreign victim should not rely solely on an oral promise.

First 24 Hours After an Assault

Seek necessary medical treatment, obtain medical documentation, report the incident, photograph injuries, identify witnesses and immediately determine whether CCTV exists.

First 48 Hours

Request preservation of recordings, preserve WhatsApp and other communications, identify the attacker as accurately as possible and collect receipts relating to immediate financial losses.

First 72 Hours

Confirm the investigation file information, organize medical and financial evidence, identify witnesses who may soon leave Turkey and establish how the case will be followed if the foreign victim returns home.

Prepare an Assault Evidence Matrix

Use:

Alleged Act → Time → Location → Attacker → Witness → CCTV → Medical Finding → Photograph → Supporting Evidence.

Prepare a CCTV Matrix

Use:

Camera → Location → Owner → Relevant Time → Preservation Status → Obtained/Not Obtained.

Prepare a Compensation Matrix

Use:

Medical Expenses → Lost Earnings → Future Treatment → Permanent Disability → Economic Future → Travel Costs → Property Damage → Moral Damage.

Prepare a Financial Evidence Matrix

Use:

Loss → Amount → Currency → Date → Invoice/Receipt → Payment Evidence → Connection With Assault.

Common Mistakes Foreign Assault Victims Should Avoid

Do not wait until returning home to report a serious assault, do not leave Turkey without identifying the investigation file, do not delay medical examination, do not rely solely on photographs instead of medical records, do not wait weeks to preserve CCTV, do not delete threatening messages, do not lose witness contact information, do not accept undocumented settlement promises, do not sign documents you cannot understand and do not concentrate exclusively on the criminal complaint while ignoring evidence needed for compensation.

2026 Legal Strategy for Foreign Assault Victims in Turkey

A strong case should develop the criminal evidence and compensation evidence simultaneously. The victim should first obtain appropriate medical treatment and documentation. The incident should then be reported promptly and the exact location, time and identity or description of the attacker recorded. CCTV should be preserved immediately because digital recordings can disappear long before the criminal investigation is completed. Witnesses should be identified, particularly foreign tourists who may leave Turkey. Photographs, videos and pre- or post-assault communications should be preserved in their original form. The victim’s statement should reconstruct the event chronologically and address any anticipated self-defense allegation. At the same time, a separate compensation file should document treatment expenses, lost earnings, future medical costs, permanent impairment, travel-related losses, damaged property and non-economic consequences. If the victim returns abroad, Turkish proceedings should continue to be monitored rather than abandoned. The practical roadmap is therefore: obtain medical treatment → secure the medical report → photograph injuries → file the criminal complaint → obtain the investigation number → identify the attacker → preserve CCTV → identify witnesses → preserve smartphone videos → preserve WhatsApp messages and threats → document the complete chronology → respond to any self-defense allegation → preserve hospital invoices → prove lost earnings → preserve travel expenses → document permanent injuries → assess TBK Articles 49, 54 and 56 → monitor the prosecutor’s investigation → participate in the criminal proceedings where appropriate → evaluate the compensation action → establish the defendant’s assets where necessary → pursue enforcement after obtaining an enforceable compensation award.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can a foreign tourist file a criminal complaint for assault in Turkey?

Yes. Foreign nationality does not prevent an assault victim from reporting an alleged crime to Turkish authorities.

2. Should I obtain a medical report immediately?

Yes. Prompt medical documentation can be extremely important for proving both the assault allegation and the nature and seriousness of the injury.

3. Can I claim compensation in addition to filing a criminal complaint?

Potentially, yes. Criminal responsibility and civil compensation are separate issues. Depending on the circumstances, material and moral compensation may be pursued.

4. What compensation can an assault victim claim?

Depending on the case, claims may concern treatment expenses, loss of earnings, permanent reduction in working capacity, economic-future losses, damaged property and moral compensation.

5. Can I claim compensation if I receive further medical treatment after returning home?

Potentially, yes, provided the treatment and expenses can be appropriately connected to the assault. Medical records, invoices and payment evidence should be preserved.

6. What happens if the attacker says I started the fight?

The authorities should evaluate the complete evidence. CCTV, witnesses, injuries suffered by both parties and the sequence of physical contact can become particularly important.

7. Can I return to my country after filing the complaint?

Generally, being the victim of a criminal offense does not require remaining in Turkey indefinitely. However, the investigation details should be recorded and arrangements made for continuing to follow the proceedings.

8. Can CCTV recordings prove the assault?

Yes, CCTV can be among the strongest evidence, particularly where the parties give conflicting accounts. It should be identified and preserved quickly before recordings are overwritten.

9. How is moral compensation calculated after an assault?

There is no automatic fixed tariff. The circumstances of the attack, seriousness and duration of the injury, permanent consequences and impact on the victim can all affect the assessment.

10. Can I pursue the case in Turkey after returning abroad?

Yes, depending on the procedural circumstances. The criminal investigation and compensation process do not automatically end merely because the foreign victim leaves Turkey.

Legal Support for Foreign Assault Victims in Turkey

A foreign victim of assault may need assistance with criminal complaints, prosecutor proceedings, medical evidence, CCTV preservation, witness identification, material compensation, moral compensation, permanent-injury claims and continuing the case after returning abroad.

Fırat Fesih Kaya Law Office provides legal assistance to foreign tourists, expatriates, investors, executives and other foreign nationals who become victims of assault or violent crime in Turkey.

Fırat Fesih Kaya can assist with filing and following criminal complaints, obtaining and preserving evidence, participating in criminal proceedings, evaluating material and moral compensation claims and pursuing compensation arising from personal injuries.

Phone: +90 312 434 22 22
Mobile Phone: +90 532 769 22 22
Email: info@firatfesihkaya.av.tr
Address: Mevlana Boulevard No: 221, Yildirim Tower, Balgat, Cankaya / Ankara, Turkey