I am a Turkish guy. I stayed in Goreme for three days for a holiday. At my pension in Goreme I met an American guy and we became friends. On our last day in Goreme my friend took an earlier bus to Istanbul. I first went to Kayseri and then took a night train to Istanbul from there. So my friend arrived at Istanbul earlier than me.

28th of June was his last night in Turkey and he was going back to US from Istanbul the other day. We met in front of Hagia Sophia at 6:30 pm in Istanbul that day. Then we went to his hostel (Bahaus Hostel) at Sultanahmet together. He and another young lady from Australia (both of them checked in earlier that day and met) were waiting outside of Bahaus Hostel for my checking in process.

I told the guy at the reception that I wanted to stay at their pension for that night. Although they had beds I am rejected. The guy at the reception desk told me that "No Turks allowed at their hostel". You can not imagine how bad I felt. I told him that what he said was discrimination and against the human rights and Turkish laws as well. I asked the reason. I asked what was wrong with being a Turk or what made Turks not qualified to stay at their hostel. He couldn't give me any specific reason just said "This is our policy." I told him that my American friend is staying at their pension and waiting outside. I also asked him how he could expect me to explain this uneasy situation to my friend. Saying to my friend "You are accepted to stay at this place because you are an American but I can not stay here because I am a Turk" would be a shame.

Then the guy called his boss. Three of us were waiting outside. After a couple of minutes he told me that his boss over the phone said "No Turks allowed! Definitely!". It was the end of the discussion. I did not want to have a bigger quarrel at that time. I was tired after a long train journey and I did not want to spoil my friend's last night by a bigger quarrel. Then I checked in at another pension.

I just need to hear your comments about this case. I am discriminated and treated as a second class human in my own country. If you don't want to give any credit to any kind of discrimination please do not stay at Bahaus Hostel in Sultanahmet.

If you just wonder, both the guy at the reception desk and his boss were also Turks.

Thanks for reading my story.

PS: I have sent this topic to some other travel forums too.

interesting read. theres to many arseholes in this world. simple as that.