In Turkey, officials have arrested four journalists from the satirical magazine LeMan following the release of a cartoon that allegedly portrays the Prophet Muhammad, a representation forbidden in Islam. The country's interior minister, Ali Yerlikaya, criticized the drawing as "shameless" and confirmed the detention of the magazine's editor-in-chief, a graphic designer, the institutional director, and the cartoonist. Protests erupted in Istanbul, where demonstrators chanted inflammatory slogans, prompting police to respond with rubber bullets and tear gas.
Turkey Detains Journalists Over Controversial Prophet Muhammad Cartoons
Turkey Detains Journalists Over Controversial Prophet Muhammad Cartoons
Four staff members of a satire magazine face arrest in Turkey for allegedly depicting the Prophet Muhammad in a published cartoon, triggering widespread protests against the publication.
LeMan defended itself on the social platform X, asserting that the cartoon does not reference Muhammad, and apologizing to readers who felt offended. The cartoon showed two winged characters in a war-torn setting, one reportedly saying, "Peace be upon you, I'm Muhammed," and the other responding, "Peace be upon you, I'm Musa." Turkey’s Minister of Justice has commenced investigations for "publicly insulting religious values," emphasizing that such portrayals harm societal peace.
Editor-in-chief Tuncay Akgun, currently located in Paris, expressed concern over the backlash likening it to the infamous attack on Charlie Hebdo, stressing that the magazine never intended to insult religious sentiments. He argued that the cartoon's intent was to symbolize the suffering of oppressed Muslim communities, asserting that misinterpretations of the work have led to undue accusations against them.
The controversy reflects a larger struggle around freedom of expression and religious sensitivities in Turkey, where the government has a history of taking strong action against perceived insults to Islam.
Editor-in-chief Tuncay Akgun, currently located in Paris, expressed concern over the backlash likening it to the infamous attack on Charlie Hebdo, stressing that the magazine never intended to insult religious sentiments. He argued that the cartoon's intent was to symbolize the suffering of oppressed Muslim communities, asserting that misinterpretations of the work have led to undue accusations against them.
The controversy reflects a larger struggle around freedom of expression and religious sensitivities in Turkey, where the government has a history of taking strong action against perceived insults to Islam.
