The Turkish satirical magazine, LeMan, finds itself at the center of a major controversy following the publication of a cartoon. Three more employees were detained on Tuesday, bringing the total number of arrests to four. The cartoon, which allegedly depicts the Prophet Muhammad, sparked outrage among government officials and led to protests outside the magazine’s Istanbul office. However, LeMan vehemently denies the allegations, claiming the drawing was intended to portray a Muslim man named Muhammad and highlight the suffering of Muslims, not to offend religious sensibilities.
The pro-government Yeni Safak newspaper described the cartoon as depicting two winged figures, interpreted by some as the Prophets Muhammad and Moses, shaking hands amidst a war scene below. This interpretation fueled the already intense reaction. The initial arrest was that of the cartoonist, Dogan Pehlevan, followed by the detention of the editor-in-chief, Zafer Aknar, graphic designer Cebrail Okcu, and manager Ali Yavuz. Warrants have also been issued for two editors believed to be out of the country.
Overnight, protestors reportedly from an Islamic group, attacked LeMan’s headquarters, throwing rocks and clashing with police. Videos of the arrests, shared by Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya on X (formerly Twitter), showed forceful detentions. Yerlikaya vowed that those responsible would be held accountable. LeMan, while apologizing for any offense caused, has also denounced what it calls a smear campaign and demanded the protection of freedom of expression.
The magazine’s editor-in-chief, Tuncay Akgun, speaking from Paris, clarified that the image was misconstrued and was not a caricature of the Prophet Muhammad. He explained that the cartoon fictionalized the name of a Muslim killed in Israeli bombings as ‘Mohammed,’ emphasizing that the intention was to depict the plight of oppressed Muslims, not to disrespect religious figures. He described the legal actions against LeMan as an ‘act of annihilation,’ highlighting the involvement of government ministers and drawing concerning parallels to the Charlie Hebdo attacks in France.
The incident has raised serious concerns about freedom of expression in Turkey and sparked widespread debate on the intersection of satire, religion, and political sensitivities. The ongoing investigation and the arrests of LeMan’s staff continue to fuel this heated discussion, with international observers closely monitoring the situation.
