Latest news with #Islamic-rooted
Mint
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Turkey Cracks Down on Magazine Over Alleged Prophet Cartoon
(Bloomberg) -- Turkey detained four employees of a satirical magazine including a cartoonist accused of depicting the Prophet Muhammad, as the government intensifies its crackdown on dissent. The cartoon, published in LeMan on June 26, drew protests by Islamic fundamentalist groups outside the magazine's Istanbul office late on Monday. Demonstrators threw stones and chanted slogans calling for Sharia law. The illustration, which LeMan denied was a caricature of the prophet, shows two winged figures above a warring city. 'Peace be upon you, I'm Muhammed,' says one. The other replies, 'Peace be upon you, I'm Musa,' using the Arabic name for Moses. Authorities ordered the issue to be removed from circulation. Depictions of the Prophet Muhammad are considered deeply offensive by many Muslims, who regard any visual representation of him as blasphemous. Government officials and pro-government media portrayed the cartoon as an insult. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned it as a 'provocation' and vowed legal action. The incident comes amid growing criticism of President Erdogan's Islamic-rooted AK Party for tightening its grip on the media, pressuring social media users and silencing dissenting voices. Opposition politicians, journalists, YouTubers and actors have been jailed in recent months, while the LGBTQ community has been increasingly vilified in officials' rhetoric. Turkey Bans CEO From Traveling Abroad Amid Islam-Related Probe LeMan, often likened to France's Charlie Hebdo — whose offices were attacked in a deadly shooting 10 years ago — claimed the drawing aimed to highlight the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In a statement on X, it said the name was used because it's the most common male name in the Islamic world, and insisted the image wasn't intended to represent the prophet. 'The person who made this vile drawing has been caught and detained,' Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on X, along with a video showing a barefoot, handcuffed man being escorted by police with his head pushed down. --With assistance from Beril Akman. (Updates throughout with details of the incident, Erdogan comment. An earlier version corrected to clarify who was taken into custody.) More stories like this are available on
The Advertiser
01-07-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Prophets cartoon a vile provocation: Turkish president
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has condemned as a "vile provocation" a cartoon in a satirical magazine that appeared to depict prophets Mohammad and Moses, amplifying an outcry by religious conservatives after the arrest of four cartoonists. The cartoon, published a few days after the end of a 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, appears to show Mohammad, Islam's chief prophet, and Moses, one of Judaism's most important prophets, shaking hands in the sky while missiles fly below in a wartime scene. It was criticised by religious conservatives and Erdogan's ruling party, which called it an "Islamophobic hate crime," even as the magazine Leman apologised to readers who felt offended and said it had been misunderstood. "We will not allow anyone to speak against our sacred values," Erdogan said in televised remarks, adding that authorities would closely follow the legal process. "Those who show disrespect to our Prophet and other prophets will be held accountable before the law," he said. The four Leman cartoonists were detained late on Monday over the drawing. Erdogan and his Islamic-rooted AK Party regularly criticise what they call Islamophobic acts in broadly secular Turkey and across Europe. Devout Muslims regard depictions of the Prophet Mohammad as blasphemous. In a statement on X, Leman said "the work does not refer to the Prophet Mohammad in any way". The cartoonist, Dogan Pehlevan, had sought to highlight "the suffering of a Muslim man killed in Israeli attacks," it said, adding there was no intent to insult Islam or its prophet. The magazine urged authorities to counter what it called a smear campaign, and to protect freedom of expression. Several civil society groups condemned the detentions as a violation of freedom of thought and expression. Turkey's freedom of expression ranking is low due to restrictions on media and public discourse. Reporters Without Borders ranked it 158th out of 180 countries in its 2024 Press Freedom Index. More than 200 people rallied against Leman in central Istanbul on Tuesday, despite a ban on gatherings and a heavy police presence. One protester, public servant Muhammed Emin Necipsoy, said the magazine's defence seemed insincere. "There is a subtle emphasis there on both the Prophet (Mohammad) and the Prophet Moses," he said. Late on Monday, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya shared a video on X showing police officers detaining Pehlevan, the cartoonist, with his hands cuffed behind his back as he was dragged up a stairwell. He also shared videos of three other men being removed from their homes and dragged into vans, one of them barefoot. "The individual who drew this vile image, DP, has been apprehended and taken into custody. These shameless people will be held accountable before the law," Yerlikaya wrote. The government said an inquiry was launched under a penal code article that criminalises incitement to hatred and enmity. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has condemned as a "vile provocation" a cartoon in a satirical magazine that appeared to depict prophets Mohammad and Moses, amplifying an outcry by religious conservatives after the arrest of four cartoonists. The cartoon, published a few days after the end of a 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, appears to show Mohammad, Islam's chief prophet, and Moses, one of Judaism's most important prophets, shaking hands in the sky while missiles fly below in a wartime scene. It was criticised by religious conservatives and Erdogan's ruling party, which called it an "Islamophobic hate crime," even as the magazine Leman apologised to readers who felt offended and said it had been misunderstood. "We will not allow anyone to speak against our sacred values," Erdogan said in televised remarks, adding that authorities would closely follow the legal process. "Those who show disrespect to our Prophet and other prophets will be held accountable before the law," he said. The four Leman cartoonists were detained late on Monday over the drawing. Erdogan and his Islamic-rooted AK Party regularly criticise what they call Islamophobic acts in broadly secular Turkey and across Europe. Devout Muslims regard depictions of the Prophet Mohammad as blasphemous. In a statement on X, Leman said "the work does not refer to the Prophet Mohammad in any way". The cartoonist, Dogan Pehlevan, had sought to highlight "the suffering of a Muslim man killed in Israeli attacks," it said, adding there was no intent to insult Islam or its prophet. The magazine urged authorities to counter what it called a smear campaign, and to protect freedom of expression. Several civil society groups condemned the detentions as a violation of freedom of thought and expression. Turkey's freedom of expression ranking is low due to restrictions on media and public discourse. Reporters Without Borders ranked it 158th out of 180 countries in its 2024 Press Freedom Index. More than 200 people rallied against Leman in central Istanbul on Tuesday, despite a ban on gatherings and a heavy police presence. One protester, public servant Muhammed Emin Necipsoy, said the magazine's defence seemed insincere. "There is a subtle emphasis there on both the Prophet (Mohammad) and the Prophet Moses," he said. Late on Monday, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya shared a video on X showing police officers detaining Pehlevan, the cartoonist, with his hands cuffed behind his back as he was dragged up a stairwell. He also shared videos of three other men being removed from their homes and dragged into vans, one of them barefoot. "The individual who drew this vile image, DP, has been apprehended and taken into custody. These shameless people will be held accountable before the law," Yerlikaya wrote. The government said an inquiry was launched under a penal code article that criminalises incitement to hatred and enmity. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has condemned as a "vile provocation" a cartoon in a satirical magazine that appeared to depict prophets Mohammad and Moses, amplifying an outcry by religious conservatives after the arrest of four cartoonists. The cartoon, published a few days after the end of a 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, appears to show Mohammad, Islam's chief prophet, and Moses, one of Judaism's most important prophets, shaking hands in the sky while missiles fly below in a wartime scene. It was criticised by religious conservatives and Erdogan's ruling party, which called it an "Islamophobic hate crime," even as the magazine Leman apologised to readers who felt offended and said it had been misunderstood. "We will not allow anyone to speak against our sacred values," Erdogan said in televised remarks, adding that authorities would closely follow the legal process. "Those who show disrespect to our Prophet and other prophets will be held accountable before the law," he said. The four Leman cartoonists were detained late on Monday over the drawing. Erdogan and his Islamic-rooted AK Party regularly criticise what they call Islamophobic acts in broadly secular Turkey and across Europe. Devout Muslims regard depictions of the Prophet Mohammad as blasphemous. In a statement on X, Leman said "the work does not refer to the Prophet Mohammad in any way". The cartoonist, Dogan Pehlevan, had sought to highlight "the suffering of a Muslim man killed in Israeli attacks," it said, adding there was no intent to insult Islam or its prophet. The magazine urged authorities to counter what it called a smear campaign, and to protect freedom of expression. Several civil society groups condemned the detentions as a violation of freedom of thought and expression. Turkey's freedom of expression ranking is low due to restrictions on media and public discourse. Reporters Without Borders ranked it 158th out of 180 countries in its 2024 Press Freedom Index. More than 200 people rallied against Leman in central Istanbul on Tuesday, despite a ban on gatherings and a heavy police presence. One protester, public servant Muhammed Emin Necipsoy, said the magazine's defence seemed insincere. "There is a subtle emphasis there on both the Prophet (Mohammad) and the Prophet Moses," he said. Late on Monday, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya shared a video on X showing police officers detaining Pehlevan, the cartoonist, with his hands cuffed behind his back as he was dragged up a stairwell. He also shared videos of three other men being removed from their homes and dragged into vans, one of them barefoot. "The individual who drew this vile image, DP, has been apprehended and taken into custody. These shameless people will be held accountable before the law," Yerlikaya wrote. The government said an inquiry was launched under a penal code article that criminalises incitement to hatred and enmity. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has condemned as a "vile provocation" a cartoon in a satirical magazine that appeared to depict prophets Mohammad and Moses, amplifying an outcry by religious conservatives after the arrest of four cartoonists. The cartoon, published a few days after the end of a 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, appears to show Mohammad, Islam's chief prophet, and Moses, one of Judaism's most important prophets, shaking hands in the sky while missiles fly below in a wartime scene. It was criticised by religious conservatives and Erdogan's ruling party, which called it an "Islamophobic hate crime," even as the magazine Leman apologised to readers who felt offended and said it had been misunderstood. "We will not allow anyone to speak against our sacred values," Erdogan said in televised remarks, adding that authorities would closely follow the legal process. "Those who show disrespect to our Prophet and other prophets will be held accountable before the law," he said. The four Leman cartoonists were detained late on Monday over the drawing. Erdogan and his Islamic-rooted AK Party regularly criticise what they call Islamophobic acts in broadly secular Turkey and across Europe. Devout Muslims regard depictions of the Prophet Mohammad as blasphemous. In a statement on X, Leman said "the work does not refer to the Prophet Mohammad in any way". The cartoonist, Dogan Pehlevan, had sought to highlight "the suffering of a Muslim man killed in Israeli attacks," it said, adding there was no intent to insult Islam or its prophet. The magazine urged authorities to counter what it called a smear campaign, and to protect freedom of expression. Several civil society groups condemned the detentions as a violation of freedom of thought and expression. Turkey's freedom of expression ranking is low due to restrictions on media and public discourse. Reporters Without Borders ranked it 158th out of 180 countries in its 2024 Press Freedom Index. More than 200 people rallied against Leman in central Istanbul on Tuesday, despite a ban on gatherings and a heavy police presence. One protester, public servant Muhammed Emin Necipsoy, said the magazine's defence seemed insincere. "There is a subtle emphasis there on both the Prophet (Mohammad) and the Prophet Moses," he said. Late on Monday, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya shared a video on X showing police officers detaining Pehlevan, the cartoonist, with his hands cuffed behind his back as he was dragged up a stairwell. He also shared videos of three other men being removed from their homes and dragged into vans, one of them barefoot. "The individual who drew this vile image, DP, has been apprehended and taken into custody. These shameless people will be held accountable before the law," Yerlikaya wrote. The government said an inquiry was launched under a penal code article that criminalises incitement to hatred and enmity.
Perth Now
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Prophets cartoon a vile provocation: Turkish president
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has condemned as a "vile provocation" a cartoon in a satirical magazine that appeared to depict prophets Mohammad and Moses, amplifying an outcry by religious conservatives after the arrest of four cartoonists. The cartoon, published a few days after the end of a 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, appears to show Mohammad, Islam's chief prophet, and Moses, one of Judaism's most important prophets, shaking hands in the sky while missiles fly below in a wartime scene. It was criticised by religious conservatives and Erdogan's ruling party, which called it an "Islamophobic hate crime," even as the magazine Leman apologised to readers who felt offended and said it had been misunderstood. "We will not allow anyone to speak against our sacred values," Erdogan said in televised remarks, adding that authorities would closely follow the legal process. "Those who show disrespect to our Prophet and other prophets will be held accountable before the law," he said. The four Leman cartoonists were detained late on Monday over the drawing. Erdogan and his Islamic-rooted AK Party regularly criticise what they call Islamophobic acts in broadly secular Turkey and across Europe. Devout Muslims regard depictions of the Prophet Mohammad as blasphemous. In a statement on X, Leman said "the work does not refer to the Prophet Mohammad in any way". The cartoonist, Dogan Pehlevan, had sought to highlight "the suffering of a Muslim man killed in Israeli attacks," it said, adding there was no intent to insult Islam or its prophet. The magazine urged authorities to counter what it called a smear campaign, and to protect freedom of expression. Several civil society groups condemned the detentions as a violation of freedom of thought and expression. Turkey's freedom of expression ranking is low due to restrictions on media and public discourse. Reporters Without Borders ranked it 158th out of 180 countries in its 2024 Press Freedom Index. More than 200 people rallied against Leman in central Istanbul on Tuesday, despite a ban on gatherings and a heavy police presence. One protester, public servant Muhammed Emin Necipsoy, said the magazine's defence seemed insincere. "There is a subtle emphasis there on both the Prophet (Mohammad) and the Prophet Moses," he said. Late on Monday, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya shared a video on X showing police officers detaining Pehlevan, the cartoonist, with his hands cuffed behind his back as he was dragged up a stairwell. He also shared videos of three other men being removed from their homes and dragged into vans, one of them barefoot. "The individual who drew this vile image, DP, has been apprehended and taken into custody. These shameless people will be held accountable before the law," Yerlikaya wrote. The government said an inquiry was launched under a penal code article that criminalises incitement to hatred and enmity.
Time of India
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Aamir Khan explains the reason behind naming his children Junaid, Ira, and Azad despite his Hindu wives: 'I had no say in it'
Aamir Khan recently addressed the reason behind his children's Islamic-rooted names, Junaid, Ira, and Azad, despite his former wives being Hindu. He revealed that Reena Dutta, his first wife, chose Junaid and Ira's names, with Ira being derived from 'Irawati,' a name for Goddess Saraswati. Kiran Rao, his second wife, named their son Azad, honoring Maulana Azad, a freedom fighter. Aamir Khan, known for keeping his personal life largely private, recently opened up about a topic that has often sparked curiosity—why his children have names rooted in Islamic tradition despite both his former wives being Hindu. In a candid appearance on Aap Ki Adalat, the actor revealed the real story behind the names Junaid, Ira, and Azad, offering a rare glimpse into the thoughtful choices made by his family over the years. During the interview, host Rajat Sharma playfully pointed out that Aamir's first wife was Reena, his second Kiran, and joked that his future wife might be named Gauri—all names of goddesses. Aamir blushed, crossed his fingers, and smiled. Sharma then asked why, despite this, Aamir's children are named Junaid Khan , Ira Khan, and Azad Khan . Aamir Khan clarified that the names of his children were chosen by his wives, not him. He explained that Reena, his first wife, selected the names Junaid and Ira—pointing out that Ira is another name for the goddess Saraswati, derived from 'Irawati,' a name she found in Maneka Gandhi's Book of Hindu Names. Aamir Khan also shared that his son Azad was named by his second wife, Kiran Rao . She chose the name to honour their family's connection to Maulana Azad, a key figure in India's freedom struggle who fought alongside leaders like Nehru, Gandhi, and Patel. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 11 Harry Potter Actors Who Grew Up Stunningly. Boite A Scoop Undo Aamir explained that the name Azad is not tied to any particular religion—it's neutral and widely respected, with figures like Chandrashekhar Azad also bearing the name. He emphasised once again that he had no role in choosing the name. Aamir Khan married Reena Dutta in 1986, and the couple had two children—Junaid and Ira Khan—before parting ways in 2002. He later tied the knot with Kiran Rao in 2005, and in 2011, they welcomed their son, Azad Rao Khan. Though they separated in 2021, Aamir and Kiran continue to co-parent Azad. Aamir is currently in a relationship with Gauri Spratt, whom he introduced publicly on his 60th birthday.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Around 100 tractors join opposition protest in central Turkey
Around 100 tractors blocked roads in central Turkey on Saturday as their drivers joined the latest anti-government protest called by the main opposition CHP. The rally in the central town of Yozgat took place exactly a month after the arrest of Istanbul's popular opposition mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu -- President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's biggest political rival. That detention sparked Turkey's worst street protests in a decade and prompted a sharp crackdown by the authorities who detained nearly 2,000 people. Although the initial mass demonstrations tailed off, the government has failed to stamp out the unrest, with ongoing protests by university and high school students, and CHP leader Ozgur Ozel calling weekly rallies across Turkey. Wearing a flat cap, Ozel drove a tractor into Yozgat on Saturday at the head of a long convoy where several thousand flag-waving protesters had rallied in this deeply conservative farming heartland that has long backed Erdogan's Islamic-rooted AKP and its nationalist allies. "Government, resign!" they chanted in footage posted online by several opposition news outlets. "I warn the authorities who see the people of Yozgat as ants and are trying to crush them: we will not let you crush these hard-working farmers!" Ozel told the crowd. - 'Enough is enough' - "The 'despised farmer' and the villager who is ignored will demand an accounting, starting here in Yozgat! The nation's future will be saved by determination and resolve. It's not... those who fear the ballot box who will win, but the people!" he later wrote on X. The jailed mayor's wife Dilek Imamoglu said people wanted change. "The workers, farmers, students, women and men who are building our future ... have said 'enough is enough' in Yozgat today. Millions want a country ruled by justice and law that is united!" she said on X. Last month, around a dozen local farmers were fined for staging a tractor protest over Imamoglu's arrest and the government's roundup of young protesters which has sparked widespread anger. "The government is putting pressure on students but the future of Turkey is the students, right?" one of the tractor drivers told the Anka news agency, without giving his name. "We came here to support each other, we can't afford anything because of hunger and thirst.... Our government should stop being partisan and deal with people's hunger," he said. At the rally, organisers read out a letter from Imamoglu urging support for the opposition's call for early elections. "If the government were to call early elections today, the economy would get back on track," he wrote in a direct appeal to those who voted for Erdogan's AKP or its nationalist MHP ally. hmw/sbk
