Here is a letter from a Jewish traveller. If you wish to answer his question, please feel free to use comments section.
Hello,
I was thinking about traveling to Turkey (mainly Istanbul) at the end of this year and had a question surrounding “safety.” I guess mainly my question has to do around the fact that I am “Jewish.” I don’t practice, I am not religious in the least bit and don’t wear the yarmulke or anything, never been to Israel, I’m not a Zionist, or anything like that. I am just “Jewish” by race, whatever that means (because my parents are non-practicing Jews). I have been told by a few middle eastern friends I can even pass for Turkish, Lebanese, or Moroccan too.
However, my main concern though is my surname is pretty famously “Jewish” and some people blame some Zionist stuff on a family bearing my surname. Even though there is a large business with an office in Istanbul with my surname, I still would like to know if it’s safe to travel there currently?
I am in love with Turkey even though I’ve never been there and all I’d like to do is visit and enjoy.
Thanks!