Turkey Detains Journalists Over Controversial Cartoon of Prophet Muhammad

Tensions flare as the country reacts to a disputed cartoon, raising questions around freedom of expression and religious sensitivity.

Four staff members of a Turkish satirical magazine have been apprehended by authorities after publishing a controversial cartoon that seemingly depicts the Prophet Muhammad, a figure whose portrayal is strictly forbidden in Islam. The interior minister of Turkey, Ali Yerlikaya, criticized the artwork from LeMan magazine as “shameless” and confirmed the arrest of its editor-in-chief, graphic designer, institutional director, and cartoonist.

In response, LeMan has asserted that its cartoon is not intended to depict Muhammad, stating on social media platform X that "the work does not refer to the Prophet Muhammad in any way." Protests erupted in Istanbul, prompting the deployment of riot police as hundreds rallied against the magazine, using slogans calling for revenge. Reports from Agence France-Presse (AFP) indicated the use of rubber bullets and tear gas to manage the crowds.

Turkey’s justice minister announced the initiation of an investigation by the chief public prosecutor's office for what is deemed “publicly insulting religious values.” In a post on X, justice minister Yilmaz Tunc asserted that the depiction of the Prophet, or any visual representation, undermines both religious values and social harmony. He pledged swift legal action against those involved with LeMan.

Videos shared by Yerlikaya show the arrest of the magazine's employees related to the "vile drawing", and arrest warrants have been extended to other senior management members. The controversial cartoon, circulating on social media, features two characters with wings in a conversation, one identifying as Muhammad and the other as Musa, which is Turkish for Moses.

LeMan publicly apologized to "well-intentioned readers who feel hurt" by the artwork, even as they defended it, denying any intention to insult religious beliefs. The editor-in-chief, Tuncay Akgun, presently in Paris, commented that the cartoon's message has been misinterpreted and reaffirmed that the magazine wouldn't risk depicting Muhammad intentionally. He drew parallels to the 2015 Charlie Hebdo incident, highlighting the alarming nature of the backlash.

The arrests and protests indicate the ongoing friction in Turkey between freedom of speech and religious sensitivities, igniting discussions at both national and global levels.