An investigation was launched against the satirical magazine LeMan over a cartoon of the Prophet; the cartoonists were detained. Groups chanting “Long live Sharia” outside the magazine’s office launched attacks.
The Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation into LeMan magazine over a cartoon featured on its June 26 cover, accusing it of “publicly insulting religious values.” The cartoon depicted a scene in which two characters identifying themselves as “Muhammad” and “Moses” greeted each other on a battlefield in the sky. Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç and Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced the investigation on social media. The cartoonist, graphic designer, editor-in-chief, and managing director of the magazine were detained.
“There is no depiction of the Prophet”
LeMan magazine stated that the cartoon did not target religious values, saying: “The cartoonist intended to depict the legitimacy of the oppressed Muslim people by focusing on a Muslim killed by Israel, and there was never any intention to insult religious values. We do not accept the stain cast upon us, as there is no depiction of the Prophet. One must be very malicious to interpret the cartoon in such a way.”
The statement emphasized that the cartoon depicted a peaceful greeting and did not intend to insult religious values. The magazine recalled that it has published five separate special issues on Palestine to date and has defended this cause for years.
Following the cartoon, crowds organized on social media gathered in front of LeMan magazine’s office in Beyoğlu. The group, which prayed and chanted “Long live Sharia,” tried to enter the magazine building. Images of the crowd chanting “Tooth for tooth, blood for blood, revenge!” and trying to break the windows with stones were shared on social media.
The group leading the protests is the Great Eastern Raiders Association, which has been linked to the IBDA-C, recognized as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the EU, and the US since the 2000s. Alper Kaan Aykut, the association’s Istanbul provincial chairman, made the following statement:
“Either we will go, or they will go. Either they will die, or we will die. The Messenger of Allah is more valuable to us than our lives and our possessions. We are ready to give our lives and take lives for that light!”
Freedom of the Press, Hate Crimes, and Security Breaches
LeMan employees stated that they were concerned about their personal safety in addition to the detention orders. They appealed to the Ministry of Justice and the Istanbul Governor’s Office, demanding that both the legal process and physical security be ensured.
What Happened at Charlie Hebdo?
Charlie Hebdo, a Paris-based satirical magazine, was attacked on January 7, 2015, by two radical Islamist assailants for publishing cartoons depicting the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Twelve people were killed in the armed attack. The incident reignited tensions worldwide over freedom of expression and sacred values.
What happened in the Madımak Massacre?
On July 2, 1993, during the Pir Sultan Abdal Festival in Sivas, a large number of writers, artists, and intellectuals were staying at the Madımak Hotel. Some participants, including Aziz Nesin, had drawn significant backlash for their secularist views, particularly Nesin’s attempt to publish Salman Rushdie’s novel The Satanic Verses.
After Friday prayers, thousands of people gathered in an organized manner and marched to the hotel, chanting slogans such as “We want sharia” and “Aziz Nesin out.” After hours of siege, the hotel was set on fire due to the lack of effective intervention by the state and security forces. Thirty-seven people lost their lives, including 33 intellectuals, two hotel employees, and two attackers.
