‘I took family to live in Turkey and noticed two big differences’

A frustrated Brit revealed the reasons behind moving his family to Turkey, claiming he had become “sick” with life back home.

Ben Iqra (@ben.iqra) took to TikTok to slam the deciding factors, which prompted him to take drastic action. In footage in which he was seen overlooking the city below, he declared: “I’m an Englishman and I’m sick of England. I’m so sick of England, I left.”

Now living in Bursa, Ben pointed out in his new home there are no “druggies and alcoholics on the street” and “if you walk down the streets – they’re clean”. He suggested that even in his native Oxford, there is “litter everywhere and no-one cares”.

“Here, they have some pride,” Ben declared, before revealing the “best thing” about living in Bursa. Panning his camera around the balcony of his property and pointing to the mosque, he said “you’ll hear it in a minute” – and within seconds the call to prayer is sounded across the city.

In Islam, the adhan is the call to prayer, usually recited by a muezzin, traditionally from the minaret of a mosque, shortly before each of the five obligatory daily prayers. Ben, whose profile states that he is a “Muslim convert”, continued: “I don’t care what you say – Turkish people aren’t religious – the masjid [mosque] always has people in it.”

However, Ben revealed his time in the country may soon be cut short. “One thing that really upsets me about Turkey is as a Brit, it’s quite hard for me to live here,” he explained.

“I’m on a tourist visa and that means I can’t stay.” According to the UK government’s travel advice section, you can visit Turkey without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, for business or tourism. It added: “If you want to stay in Turkey for more than 90 days, you must get a short-term residence permit before the end of your stay.”

“One thing I’m going to miss is the hammam,” Ben closed. “It’s like a Roman bath – you go in and it is normal – everyone goes. It’s not weird to wash in public! You go in, there’s a steam room and sauna and when you finish you can chill out on a lounger, you’re served drinks and you can chat to your mates.”

Another Brit who made the same move hailed in response: “I live in Turkey, I went straight to hospital, saw an orthopedic consultant within 5 minutes, 10 minutes later I was having a MRI on my knee! Wouldn’t get that in the UK.”

A second person congratulated Ben: “You done the best thing, my friend. I’m telling you people in UK just paying bills, bills, bills, people depressed, no sunshine, wake up in darkness, go back in darkness.”

Others agreed with the cleanliness Ben referred to, with a British tourist penning: “Very true, I visit Turkey three times a year, so clean. What has happened to England it is going worse with litter and people on the streets.”

Someone else concurred: “Went to Turkey for the first time this year and the family loved it, very clean and everyone very polite and respectful. The call of prayer is so peaceful and beautiful to hear every prayer time. Thanks for sharing.”