Celebratory gunfire and endangering public safety
Firing a weapon, starting a fire or using explosives in a way that causes fear or panic among people. The penalty is 1–5 years’ imprisonment.
Firing into the air at a wedding, a football match or a celebration is an offence even if nobody is injured. Article 170 of the Turkish Penal Code punishes conduct that endangers people’s lives, health or property, or that may cause fear, anxiety or panic among people.
Penalty
A person who, in a way that endangers people’s lives, health or property or that may cause fear, anxiety or panic among people:
- starts a fire,
- causes a building to collapse, a landslide, an avalanche, a flood or an overflow,
- fires a weapon or uses explosives,
is punished with 1–5 years’ imprisonment.
2025 amendment
Law No. 7571 of 24 December 2025 added two provisions to the article:
- If the offence is committed by firing a blank or gas pistol, the penalty is 6 months to 3 years’ imprisonment.
- If the offence is committed in places where people are gathered, the penalty is increased by one half.
Causing danger
A person who causes the danger of a fire, building collapse, landslide, avalanche, flood or overflow is punished with 3 months to 1 year’s imprisonment or a judicial fine (TCK 170/3).
Offences committed together
If the person firing has an unlicensed weapon, a separate penalty is imposed under Law No. 6136. If someone is injured or killed as a result of the gunfire, the incident is also assessed as injury or killing.