The crescent and star on the national flag of Turkey are white.
The white crescent and five-pointed star appear on a red field. Turkey’s flag is commonly called the Ay Yıldız, meaning “moon-star” in Turkish. The design has deep historical roots in Ottoman symbolism, although the exact modern form developed over time rather than being created in one single event.
Turkey’s current flag law dates from 1936, which standardized the flag’s proportions and emblem placement. The crescent opens toward the fly side, with the star positioned just beyond its tips. This arrangement is a key visual feature of the Turkish design.
The crescent and star are often broadly associated with Islam, but their use predates Islam in several regional traditions. Turkey’s emblem should also not be confused with the similar symbols on the flags of Pakistan, Tunisia or Algeria, which use different field colors and arrangements.