The Mad Boys bar in the coastal city of Marmaris, Turkey, was shut down indefinitely following a violent incident between staff and a group of British tourists. According to Turkish news site Sabah, the Marmaris provincial governor took this action as part of a broader investigation following a confrontation that shocked the public and drew widespread condemnation. Five bar employees were arrested by police in connection with the assault. "It should be known that there is no tolerance for violence against women," he stated.
Video: The Mad Boys bar in the coastal city of Marmaris / Credit: Instagram/Marmaris_Anlik
The incident occurred in the Armutalan neighborhood, an area known for its bars and restaurants, when a dispute erupted between the bar staff and a group of British tourists over a bill of 5,000 Turkish liras (approximately $415). The dispute escalated when the tourists allegedly refused to pay, claiming "we won't pay, no one can do anything to us," as reported by Turkish news site Aksam.
What began as a verbal confrontation quickly escalated into physical violence. Bar employees attacked the tourists, including women, with punches and kicks. Footage of the incident showed workers assaulting the group, with some female tourists receiving kicks while on the ground. Sabah noted that the images spread rapidly on social media, causing public outrage.
The involved employees claimed that the tourists caused the escalation, and that the situation deteriorated due to verbal insults from the tourists, including demeaning comments about Turks and the Turkish flag. One tourist allegedly said, "You are all low-level people. We came from England, from Scotland. You are not at our level." The staff claimed they tried to call police, but the incident had already escalated when authorities arrived.
Neither side filed a complaint immediately after the incident, which led to the temporary closure of the case on the day it occurred. The municipality imposed an administrative fine on the bar for "violating planning and construction law" and "violating administrative offenses law." However, the widespread distribution of the footage led authorities to reopen the case.
