Istanbul Police Arrest 4 Magazine Staffers Over Cartoon Allegedly Depicting Prophet Muhammad
Converging reports said police arrested four people working for LeMan, the magazine that published the alleged cartoon.
The cartoon was published last week, triggering backlash and frustration from many, with protesters taking to the streets to denounce the act as an insult to religious values. Viral videos online show people marching across Istanbul, reaching the magazine's office and chanting slogans against the act.
On Tuesday, Istanbul's chief public prosecutor's office announced the opening of an investigation.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan himself lashed out at the magazine, describing the act as a 'vile provocation' and a hate crime.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya also condemned the caricaturing of Prophet Muhammad, noting that the act is not a press freedom nor is it freedom of expression.
'These provocative acts, which insult our sacred values and deeply hurt Muslim consciences, will not go unpunished,'he said in a statement.
The minister said that six detention orders were issued.
A graphic designer, as well as two other senior staff members from the magazine and a cartoonist, were arrested, and the investigation is ongoing to arrest other accomplices.
The magazine, LeMan, later apologized to readers, claiming the cartoon was misinterpreted and was meant to depict the 'suffering of a Muslim man killed in Israeli attacks.'
It further claimed that the cartoon does not portray Prophet Muhammad, noting that the general name 'Muhammed' is the most common in the Muslim world.
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