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Straits Times
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Turkish cartoonist jailed pending trial over drawing accused of insulting Prophet
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox People take part in a protest against a caricature published in the Turkish satirical magazine Leman, allegedly depicting the Prophet Mohammed and Moses, in central Istanbul, Turkey, July 1, 2025. REUTERS/Dilara Senkaya ANKARA - A Turkish court on Wednesday ordered the arrest of cartoonist Dogan Pehlevan and three others pending trial, after a drawing in their satirical magazine stirred outrage among religious conservatives and condemnation by President Tayyip Erdogan. Pehlevan faces charges, which he denies, of inciting hatred and insulting the president, according to a court document. Justice Minster Yilmaz Tunc said the four had been arrested. The cartoon, published shortly after war ended between Israel and Iran, showed two elderly men named Mohammad and Moses shaking hands in the sky while missiles flew below — a scene critics said blasphemously referenced Muslim and Jewish prophets. On Tuesday, Erdogan called the Leman magazine cartoon a "vile provocation" and vowed that "those who show disrespect to our Prophet and other prophets will be held accountable before the law." His AK Party called it an Islamophobic hate crime. In a court statement seen by Reuters, Pehlevan denied targeting religious figures, saying the names were commonly used and intended to represent ordinary victims of war. "If I had referred the prophets, I would have used an expression like 'Prophet'," he said. "The cartoon is a call for peace." Pehlevan faces charges of "inciting hatred and enmity" and "insulting the president", the court document said. Three other Leman staff members — the managing editor, graphic designer, and administrative director — were also referred to court under similar charges. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Singapore and Cambodia to expand collaboration in renewable energy, carbon markets and agri-trade Singapore From camping to mentorship, Singapore scouts mark 115th anniversary of the youth movement Singapore Ong Beng Seng's court hearing rescheduled one day before he was expected to plead guilty World Sean 'Diddy' Combs convicted on prostitution counts, but cleared of more serious charges Singapore ByteDance food poisoning: Catering firm convicted after cockroach infestation found on premises Singapore Teen, 17, to be charged with allegedly trespassing on MRT tracks Singapore Granddaughter of Hin Leong founder O.K. Lim fails to keep 3 insurance policies from creditors' reach Singapore Man on trial for raping drunken woman after offering to drive her and her friend home Leman has apologised to readers who felt offended and said the cartoon was misunderstood. It said Pehlevan sought to portray the suffering of civilians in wartime and that there was no intent to insult Islam. REUTERS
TimesLIVE
01-07-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Türkiye detains cartoonists over 'satirical' drawing
Justice minister Yilmaz Tunc said an investigation had been launched under article 216 of the Turkish Penal Code, which criminalises incitement to hatred and enmity, and that detention orders had been issued for four people in total. In its statement on X, Leman magazine apologised to readers who felt offended and said the cartoon had been misunderstood. It said 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 name Muhammad is among the most widely used in the world by Muslims honouring the prophet. The cartoon does not depict the prophet and was not drawn to mock religious values,' the magazine said, calling some interpretations 'deliberately malicious'. Leman also urged judicial authorities to act against what it called a smear campaign, and asked security forces to protect freedom of expression. Earlier in the evening, video footage on social media showed a group of protesters marching to Leman's office building in central Istanbul, chanting slogans and kicking its entrance doors. Türkiye's ranking for freedom of expression is consistently low, reflecting significant restrictions on media and public discourse. Reporters Without Borders ranks Türkiye 158th out of 180 countries in its 2024 Press Freedom Index.
