Turkish Authorities Detain Cartoonists Over Satirical Drawing Depicting Prophets
Turkish authorities have detained three cartoonists over a satirical drawing published in the weekly magazine Leman, which depicted Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Prophet Moses shaking hands in the sky while missiles flew below. The cartoon, seen as a commentary on religious harmony amid earthly conflict, has sparked widespread condemnation and legal action.
On Monday, Turkish authorities detained three cartoonists following the publication of a satirical drawing in the weekly magazine Leman. The cartoon, which appeared to depict Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Prophet Moses shaking hands in the sky while missiles flew below, was widely interpreted as a commentary on religious harmony in contrast to the ongoing conflicts on Earth.
The drawing drew strong condemnation from government officials and religious conservatives. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya shared a video on X (formerly Twitter) showing police officers detaining cartoonist Dogan Pehlevan and dragging him up the stairs of a building with his hands cuffed behind his back.
Yerlikaya wrote, “I once again curse those who try to sow discord by drawing caricatures of our Prophet Muhammad. The individual who drew this vile image, D.P., has been apprehended and taken into custody. These shameless people will be held accountable before the law.”
Later, Yerlikaya posted two other videos showing two more men being forcibly taken from their homes by police officers, with one of them walking barefoot.
Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced that an investigation had been launched under Article 216 of the Turkish Penal Code, which criminalizes incitement to hatred and enmity. Detention orders were issued for a total of six people in connection with the cartoon.
Leman Magazine’s Response
In a statement on X, Leman magazine apologized to readers who felt offended and clarified that the cartoon had been misunderstood. The magazine stated that cartoonist Dogan Pehlevan had sought to highlight “the suffering of a Muslim man killed in Israeli attacks” and that there was no intent to insult Islam or its Prophet.
The magazine added, “The name Muhammad is among the most widely used in the world by Muslims honoring the Prophet. The cartoon does not depict the Prophet and was not drawn to mock religious values.” Leman also called some interpretations of the cartoon “deliberately malicious.”
Leman urged judicial authorities to act against what it called a smear campaign and asked security forces to protect freedom of expression.
