Back in the 80's a bunch of US servicemen (believe Navy on leave) in Izmir Turkey climbed up on a big statue of Ataturk (father of modern Turkey - think George Washington, but the Turks worship him, or they did back then) drunk on their ass. The Turk cops told them to get down once, and the sailors gave them the finger. The Sgt in charge had them stand back and aim rifles (G3 machine guns) and
fire on my command (like a firing squad). The sailors saw they would be shot off the statue and got down. Good thing, cause they would have all been killed. And it would have been all nice and legal. And they really liked Americans and US servicemen back then.
When in Rome, it's best to do what the locals do (or wherever you are).

And BTW, it was safer in every Turkish city than
any American city during my tours there.