FLASH
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Police in Turkey arrested at least four cartoonists and two journalists yesterday on charges of drawing and distributing a cartoon that authorities and protesters say depicts the Prophet Muhammad and Moses.
The cartoon, published on June 26 in a satirical political magazine, shows a Muslim and a Jew, both wearing wings and halos, shaking hands and greeting each other as bombs fall from below.
The cartoon went viral on social media four days after it was published. Hundreds of people took to Istanbul's main tourist street, chanting "Allah is Great" and calling for the imposition of sharia law in protest.
Turkish authorities quickly condemned the magazine. In addition to arresting the six people responsible, they ordered the magazine to be withdrawn and initiated proceedings to block online access to the controversial cartoon.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya called the cartoon a provocation and said those who "dare to do this will be held accountable before the law."
He added that the cartoon is not protected by freedom of expression or freedom of speech. Fahrettin Altun, the Turkish presidency's communications chief, called it a "disgusting attack on our beliefs and values."
The country's Justice Ministry announced that it had opened an investigation into the incident under Article 216 of the Turkish Penal Code for the crime of "public insult to religious values." LeMan, the weekly political satirical magazine known for its obscene comics, similar to those published by France's Charlie Hebdo, issued a statement saying that their cartoon did not depict the Islamic prophet.
"This sketch is not a caricature of the Prophet Muhammad. In the work, the name Muhammad is presented as that of a Muslim who was killed in Israeli bombings. There are more than 200 million people named Muhammad in the Islamic world. The work does not refer to the Prophet Muhammad in any way," the magazine said.
"By depicting a murdered Muslim, the aim was to highlight the justice of the oppressed Muslim people, without any intention to undermine religious values. We reject the stigma that has been imposed on us, as there is no depiction of our Prophet," LeMan announced.
???? WATCH: Turkey protests: clashes erupt in Istanbul over 'Prophet Muhammad' cartoon
— The Times and The Sunday Times (@thetimes) July 1, 2025
LeMan magazine condemned for publishing image as a criminal investigation is opened and arrest warrants are issued for senior editors
???? Read more: https://t.co/VfamJfNDZs pic.twitter.com/zXWMD95qoR
"Interpreting the cartoon in such a way presupposes extreme malice," the magazine added, but also apologized to any readers who may have been offended.
As protesters took to the streets, the Interior Ministry released videos of cartoonists being held in their homes, barefoot and handcuffed by police, with captions such as "you will not escape our security forces or justice."
Protesters were seen kicking down the doors of the magazine's offices in central Istanbul. In one video, one protester chants: "For our Prophet, we would give our lives and take our lives. No one can insult our Prophet."
The crowd also held a night prayer. Within hours, Istanbul Governor Davut Gul announced that the four people wanted for the cartoon were in police custody.
???? SON DAKİKA: Leman dergisinin Bakırköy's place was raided by Muslim youths. Polis havaya têf açarak ıttre etti pic.twitter.com/nh4t72Y3jR
— Daily Islamist (@dailyislamist) June 30, 2025
Gul did not say whether any protesters were arrested, but said that "it has been proven that some individuals among the protesters have engaged in provocative actions. It is very important that the protesters disperse to prevent harm to our citizens and to maintain public order." Several groups have called for further protests against the magazine for today.
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