Protests erupt in Turkey over Prophet Muhammad cartoon: Erdogan calls it 'hate crime'; magazine denies charge
'Those who are insolent towards our Prophet and other prophets will be held accountable before the law,' Erdogan declared, as authorities moved swiftly to seize copies of the issue and initiate legal proceedings.
The controversy began after the magazine published a cartoon that, according to government officials, depicts the Prophet Muhammad—a figure whose visual representation is forbidden in Islam. Four senior employees of LeMan, including the editor-in-chief, cartoonist, designer, and institutional director, were arrested on charges of 'publicly insulting religious values.'
Turkey's interior minister Ali Yerlikaya labelled the cartoon 'shameless' and shared footage of the arrests on social media, vowing, 'These shameless people will be held accountable before the law.
'
LeMan, however, has denied any wrongdoing. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), the magazine said: 'The cartoonist wanted to portray the righteousness of the oppressed Muslim people by depicting a Muslim killed by Israel.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
12000W лазерен заваръчен апарат (4 в 1) – революция в заваряването!
lesburst.shop
Undo
He never intended to insult religious values.'
The magazine stressed that the character was not the Prophet Muhammad but a man named Muhammad, a common name among Muslims. 'We would never take such a risk,' editor-in-chief Tuncay Akgun told AFP from Paris. 'This cartoon is not a caricature of Prophet Muhammad in any way.'
Despite the magazine's defence, tensions flared in Istanbul. Riot police fired rubber bullets and tear gas on Monday to disperse a crowd of several hundred protesters who had gathered outside LeMan's headquarters, chanting slogans like 'revenge, revenge.'
Elsewhere, demonstrators attacked a bar frequented by magazine staff. Istanbul's governor, Davut Gul, vowed that officials 'will not remain silent in the face of any vile act targeting our nation's faith.
'
Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced an investigation, saying, 'The caricature or any form of visual representation of our Prophet not only harms our religious values but also damages societal peace.' Presidential press aide Fahrettin Altun confirmed that police had taken over LeMan's offices and that arrest warrants had been issued for additional editors believed to be abroad.
Founded in 1991, LeMan is known for its political satire and had previously expressed solidarity with France's Charlie Hebdo, the target of a deadly Islamist attack in 2015 over similar content. Akgun warned of 'very worrying' parallels being drawn with Charlie Hebdo, adding, 'This is an act of annihilation… a cartoon is distorted and ministers are involved.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
36 minutes ago
- Time of India
State names special courts in Panaji, Margao to deal with land grab cases
Panaji: State govt on Tuesday designated two courts, one in each district, as special courts to ensure proper prosecution and speedy trials in land grab cases. The special investigation team (SIT) probing these cases registered over 44 FIRs and arrested 56 persons. The notification issued by Amir Parab, undersecretary, law, said that govt designed the courts of district judge-1 and additional sessions judge, Panaji and Margao, as special courts to deal with land grabbing cases, both existing and future registrations, until new legislation is enacted. He said the notification was issued on the recommendation by justice V K Jadhav, who heads the commission of inquiry, and with the concurrence of the high court. TOI has earlier reported that the high court granted approval to state govt's proposal to designate two special courts to ensure proper prosecution and speedy trials in land grab cases. The chief justice had directed the designation of these two courts to deal with land grab cases. State govt, in its letter to the high court in Nov, said that govt constituted an SIT to investigate cases of land grabbing and that it would inquire into various complaints/FIRs regarding illegal land transfers/land grabbing through forged documents. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo State govt had constituted the SIT in June 2022 and said that after forming the team, police stations across Goa forwarded registered crimes to the SIT, in addition to those already registered at the crime branch, Ribandar. On Sep 9, 2022, govt appointed a commission to study complaints/FIRs regarding illegal land transfers/land grabbing with the use of forged documents. Govt sought recommendations to tackle the menace and submitted the same. The SIT is currently investigating these cases, with some already being chargesheeted and others nearing disposal. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
Time of India
39 minutes ago
- Time of India
Opposition Boycotts Assembly over Farmers' Insult, Demands Apology from Chief Minister
1 2 Nagpur: Opposition MLAs, led by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), boycotted the Maharashtra Assembly for the entire day on Tuesday, demanding a public apology from chief minister Devendra Fadnavis over controversial remarks made by the agriculture minister and a BJP MLA. The opposition accused minister Manikrao Kokate and MLA Babanrao Lonikar of insulting farmers and demanded strict action. "The government is complicit in humiliating farmers. This arrogance of power will not be tolerated," said Congress legislature party leader Vijay Wadettiwar. He further alleged that ministers speak with contempt, and MLAs talk of charity when referring to farmers. "If this is not an insult, what is?" he asked. The dispute erupted during the morning session when Wadettiwar and Nana Patole questioned speaker Rahul Narwekar near the podium, citing Lonikar's comment that "farmers survive on our money" and Kokate's earlier remark comparing farmers to beggars. The House was briefly adjourned for five minutes amid sloganeering by opposition legislators. When proceedings resumed, opposition MLAs led by Patole continued chanting "CM must apologise," prompting Narwekar to suspend Patole for a day. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Açúcar alto no sangue pode trazer riscos a visão, entenda planta que tem ajudado Saúde Nacional Undo In response, MVA legislators staged a walkout and announced a complete boycott of the day's legislative business. "There is a clear pattern. Opposition voices are being silenced while those speaking against farmers go unpunished. We will continue to raise our voice for farmers, even if we are jailed," Wadettiwar told the media. The boycott coincided with widespread farmer protests across twelve districts opposing the Shaktipeeth Expressway project. Wadettiwar added, "While farmers are on the streets, ruling leaders are mocking them. The chief minister's silence amounts to endorsement." Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
Time of India
39 minutes ago
- Time of India
New session begins with focus on community involvement, girls' edu
1 2 3 4 Lucknow: The new academic session in UP govt schools began on Tuesday with the 'School Chalo Abhiyan', featuring traditional welcome and special focus on community participation in education. Digital innovations were used to promote awareness, focusing on the enrolment and participation of girls. "As part of the campaign, plantation drives are being conducted under the slogan 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam'. The initiative reflects the Yogi govt's commitment to making education a tool for social change, aiming to reach every child," said a govt schools reopened with students being greeted with sensitivity, respect and cultural warmth. Simultaneously, the second phase of the 'School Chalo Abhiyan' started, running from July 1 to July 15. In Prayagraj, students received books and stationery, and a rally was organised alongside a plantation drive featuring saplings of Rudraksh, Parijat and Mahogany. At Primary School Amkheda in Madhogarh block of Jalaun, teachers and students issued a digital appeal to the community, urging them to send their children to school. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Undo This emerged as a powerful example of promoting social participation in education. Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) in districts like Lakhimpur Kheri, Varanasi and Ambedkar Nagar warmly welcomed girls, emphasising the Yogi govt's priority on girls' education. Rallies, wall paintings, and cultural programmes promoted the message of education from Prayagraj to Saharanpur. Basic education minister Sandeep Singh said the campaign's focus on door-to-door outreach, girls' enrolment and identifying out-of-school children, aims at including every child in the new academic session. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
