Istanbul main nationalist prosecutor’s bureau announces probe aft charges of ‘openly insulting spiritual values’.
Published On 1 Jul 2025
Police successful Turkiye person detained 4 radical implicit a cartoon published by the satirical mag LeMan, which critics accidental appeared to picture Prophet Muhammad and Prophet Moses shaking hands successful the entity arsenic missiles fell beneath successful a war-like country – a assertion the mag denies.
The cartoon, published past week, triggered a backlash from authorities officials and spiritual groups successful Turkiye. On Tuesday, the Istanbul main nationalist prosecutor’s bureau announced a ceremonial probe nether charges of “openly insulting spiritual values”.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya posted a video connected X showing the apprehension of cartoonist Dogan Pehlevan connected Monday.
“I powerfully condemn the shameless caricaturing of our Prophet,” Yerlikaya said. “This is not property freedom. This is not state of expression. These provocative acts, which insult our ineffable values and profoundly wounded Muslim consciences, volition not spell unpunished.”
He added that a full of six detention orders had been issued. Two radical who were overseas person yet to beryllium arrested.
Yerlikaya besides said the magazine’s graphic decorator and 2 different elder staffers were detained, on with the cartoonist.
Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc confirmed the probe is proceeding nether Article 216 of the Turkish Penal Code, which criminalises “incitement to hatred and enmity”.
In a connection posted connected X, LeMan apologised to readers who were offended but insisted the cartoon had been misinterpreted. The mag said Pehlevan aimed to item “the suffering of a Muslim antheral killed successful Israeli attacks” and denied immoderate effort to mock Islam.
“The sanction Muhammad is among the astir communal successful the Muslim satellite successful honour of the Prophet. The cartoon does not represent him, nor was it intended to disrespect spiritual beliefs,” the mag said, accusing critics of wilfully distorting its message.
LeMan urged authorities to analyse what it described arsenic a targeted smear run and called for stronger extortion of property freedom.
Later successful the evening, videos surfaced online of crowds of protesters marching to LeMan’s bureau successful Istanbul, kicking the building’s doors and chanting slogans.
The lawsuit has reignited debates successful Turkiye implicit the boundaries of escaped look and spiritual sensitivity.
Source:
Al Jazeera and quality agencies