A passenger traveling to Germany invoked Sharia law as a reason not to sit beside a woman on a flight, then slapped a flight attendant who attempted to speak with him.

The incident occurred on a Turkish Airlines flight from Samsun, Turkey, to Düsseldorf on June 1. German police are continuing to investigate the case.

The suspect, a twenty-nine-year-old German citizen of Turkish origin, refused to take a seat next to a woman, claiming that doing so would violate Sharia, the body of religious and moral law in Islam.

When a female member of the cabin crew tried to address the situation, he slapped her across the face.

After the aircraft landed at Düsseldorf Airport, officers from Germany's Federal Police were called to the scene.

The passenger reportedly admitted what he had done while continuing to confront the officers.

The Federal Police confirmed that the suspect insulted the officers in Turkish.

One of the officers spoke Turkish and understood the remarks, leading authorities to add a further allegation of insulting police officers.