User:JustinePorto/Public toilets in Turkey

Public toilets in Turkey include both squat and flush toilets. They can be found at bus stations, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, cafes, bars, mosques and street level stand alone units.

Public toilets
A 2021 study found there was one public toilet per 100,000 people. Public toilets are available at bus stations and underground shopping centers. Because of the sewage system, toilet paper in most places could not be thrown in a toilet but needed to be put in a bin next to the toilet. Because people ignore that problem and toss toilet paper in anyway, blockages are reasonably common in public toilets. One of the most common types of public toilets in Turkey is the pay turnstile toilet, with the cost being around 1 lira. This payment helps defray the price of cleaning the toilets. A survey of people over the age of 65 in Turkey found that people with disabilities needed public signage to tell them where public toilets were located.

Hotels, restaurants, cafes and bars often have Western-style sit toilets. Many of these include a bidet feature. Many public Western style sit toilets have a detachable hand held water sprayer that acts like a bidet. They also often have attendants, who in addition to cleaning the toilets sell things like toilet paper, toilet water and paper for drying your hands. Some lower end restaurants discourage women from using their toilets, claiming they are not suitable for women.

Squat toilets are the most common style of toilet in public toilets in rural areas. Some of these had buckets of water next to them so water could be used to clean the anal area. Most did not have toilet paper. Some have attendants and charge a small fee to access. Squat public toilets are often found in petrol stations, smaller restaurants and mosques. In more remote areas of the country, mosques may be the only place with public toilets.

Islamic teachings suggest using water for cleaning after using the toilet. In 2015, Turkey’s Directorate of Religious Affair issues a fatwa that said Muslims can use toilet paper if water is not available to clean themselves after defecating.