Latest news with #blasphemy
Arab News
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Erdogan condemns blasphemous cartoon
ANKARA, ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday condemned as a 'vile provocation' a blasphemous cartoon in a satirical magazine. The cartoon was criticized by religious conservatives and Erdogan's ruling party, which called it an 'Islamophobic hate crime,' even as the magazine Leman apologized 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. Four Leman cartoonists were detained late on Monday over the drawing. The government said an inquiry was launched under a penal code article that criminalizes incitement to hatred and enmity. Crowds rallied against Leman in central Istanbul on Tuesday, despite a ban on gatherings and a heavy police presence. 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, D.P., 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 criminalizes incitement to hatred and enmity. A group called Islamic Solidarity Platform called a protest on Tuesday, prompting police to shut Taksim Square and Istiklal, the city's busy shopping thoroughfare. The group of around 300 protesters shouted slogans at the magazine. According to a correspondent, the protesters were far less aggressive than those who rallied on Monday night, when around 400 people tried to storm a bar frequented by the magazine staff.
Arab News
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Clashes in Istanbul over blasphemous cartoon
ISTANBUL: Clashes erupted in Istanbul Monday with police firing rubber bullets and tear gas to break up an angry mob after allegations that a satirical magazine had published a blasphemous cartoon, an AFP correspondent said. The incident occurred after Istanbul's chief prosecutor ordered the arrest of the editors at LeMan magazine on grounds it had published a cartoon which 'publicly insulted religious values.' 'The chief public prosecutor's office has launched an investigation into the publication of a cartoon in the June 26, 2025 issue of LeMan magazine that publicly insults religious values, and arrest warrants have been issued for those involved,' the prosecutor's office said. As the news broke, several dozen angry protesters attacked a bar often frequented by LeMan staffers in downtown Istanbul, provoking angry scuffles with police, an AFP correspondent said. The scuffles quickly degenerated into clashes involving between 250 to 300 people, the correspondent said. In several posts on X, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said police had arrested the cartoonist responsible for 'this vile drawing', the magazine's graphic designer and two other staffers. Police had also taken over the magazine's offices on Istiklal Avenue and arrest warrants had been issued for several other of the magazine's executives, presidential press aide Fahrettin Altin wrote on X. In a string of posts on X, LeMan defended the cartoon and said it had been deliberately misinterpreted to cause a provocation. 'The cartoonist wanted to portray the righteousness of the oppressed Muslim people by depicting a Muslim killed by Israel, he never intended to belittle religious values,' it said. Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said an investigation had been opened on grounds of 'publicly insulting religious values.' 'Disrespect toward our beliefs is never acceptable,' he wrote on X. Istanbul governor Davut Gul also lashed out at 'this mentality that seeks to provoke society by attacking our sacred values. 'We will not remain silent in the face of any vile act targeting our nation's faith,' he warned.
Times
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Times
Protests erupt in Istanbul over ‘Prophet Muhammad' cartoon
Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas amid protests in Istanbul over a cartoon allegedly depicting the Prophet Muhammad published in a satirical magazine. The image in LeMan's June 26 issue thought to show the Prophet Muhammad and Moses shaking hands above a bombed-out city in reference to the recent conflict between Israel and Iran. It drew a swift backlash on social media, where many accused the magazine of insulting Islamic beliefs. The justice minister, Yılmaz Tunc, announced on Monday evening that an investigation had been opened under a law relating to publicly insulting religious values. He said: 'No freedom allows mocking a religion's sacred values in such an offensive manner.' Istanbul's chief prosecutor ordered the arrest of the magazine's editors on the grounds that it had published a cartoon which 'publicly insulted religious values'. Hundreds of protesters gathered outside LeMan's office on central Istanbul's Istiklal Street on Monday night to express their outrage over the publication, with some armed with sticks and stones. • Blasphemy work on hold despite rise in extremism reports Riot police were deployed around the magazine's premises as demonstrators chanted slogans such as 'Kemalist infidels will be held accountable', referring to secular followers of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, who founded the Turkish republic and main opposition party the CHP. The cartoonist, identified by the initials D.P., has been taken into custody, with arrest warrants issued for two editors-in-chief and the managing editor of LeMan, according to the interior minister, Ali Yerlikaya. One editor-in-chief, Tuncay Akgun, told the AFP news agency by phone from Paris that the image had been misinterpreted and was 'not a caricature of Prophet Muhammad'. 'In this work, the name of a Muslim who was killed in the bombardments [by] Israel is fictionalised as Muhammad. More than 200 million people in the Islamic world are named Muhammad,' he said, saying it had 'nothing to do with Prophet Muhammad'. He added: 'We would never take such a risk.' Yerlikaya described the cartoonist as 'despicable' and said 'these shameless people will be held accountable before the law.' He also posted videos showing men being forcibly taken from their homes and dragged into vans by police. The authorities have recalled the issue containing the cartoon from circulation. The director of presidential communications, Fahrettin Altun, condemned the publication as an 'immoral attack' on national values. LeMan rejected claims that their content was 'anti-Muslim' in a statement on social media, apologising to readers who felt offended and saying the cartoon had been misunderstood. 'The cartoonist here wanted to portray the righteousness of the oppressed Muslim people by depicting a Muslim killed by Israel, and he never intended to denigrate religious values,' it said. Depicting the Prophet Muhammad is widely considered forbidden in Islamic tradition as it is believed to prevent idolatry and preserve the sanctity of his image. LeMan is known for its provocative satire and has previously faced criticism for cartoons relating to a failed coup attempt in 2016 and religious figures such as the 13th-century poet Rumi.
Al Bawaba
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
Outrage in Turkey after women in imam robes twerk inside mosque
ALBAWABA - A social media video that showed two young ladies entering a mosque while wearing imam robes and doing twerks within the hallowed building has caused a great deal of indignation in Turkey. The video, which was purportedly taken at a Bolu mosque, went viral very fast and has since provoked an outcry from the public. Also Read Outrage in Palestine over snack ad mocking 'last supper' Although the video's source is still unknown, many have taken offense at the images, especially because of the symbolic clothing and the environment. One of the video's captions, "Trying to find the right path with my bestie," describes the ladies' suggestive gestures and movements. This was seen by many as a willful disregard for religion symbols and institutions. Social media users were incensed and blasted the video as blasphemous. "How dare they?" and requests for responsibility, such as "Find them immediately," were among the comments. The actions were denounced by some as both unethical and a purposeful provocation meant to incite controversy. Social critics and religious leaders have demanded that the event be looked into and that authorities find and speak with those responsible. In Turkey, where conflicts often erupt over matters pertaining to secularism and religious values, the controversy has rekindled discussions about the limits of freedom of speech and respect for places of worship. Although the Bolu municipal authorities have not yet made an official declaration about possible legal action, public pressure is growing for prompt accountability.
Daily Mail
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Man who burned Koran and shouted 'f*** Islam' faces imminent terrorist plot to murder him, police warn
An asylum seeker who set fire to the Koran while shouting anti-Islamic slurs has been warned by police that he is the target of an 'imminent' terror plot to murder him, it emerged today. Hamit Coskun, 50, was woken by officers at 2am on Saturday and told his life was in danger, according to his lawyers. The officers, acting on behalf of the Metropolitan Police, are understood to have issued what is known as an Osman warning – a formal alert given when there is intelligence of a real threat to life but not enough evidence to make an arrest. Coskun, who is originally from Turkey and is now in hiding in the UK, was convicted last week for a racially aggravated public order offence after he burned a copy of the Islamic holy book during a protest in Knightsbridge on February 13. During the incident – which was filmed and went viral online – he shouted: 'F*** Islam' and 'Islam is religion of terrorism' as he held the Koran above his head and set it alight. The shocking act has sparked furious debate over freedom of speech, religious tolerance – and whether Britain is bringing back blasphemy laws through the back door. Coskun's supporters say the decision to prosecute him has now made him a target, and accuse the authorities of putting his life at risk. Speaking to the Mail this week Mr Coskun said: 'My social media accounts and phonebook are full of death threats from [people based in] cities like London and Birmingham. 'Like everyone else, I am afraid of being killed [and] I am very worried because I know that I may face security risks. This is the reality of the 'religion' we call Islam. 'It does not respect different beliefs and cultures, it does not recognize the right to life. But I am not a coward. I am ready to pay the price.' Social media posts sent to Mr Coskun and seen by the Mail include one that states: 'You should sacrifice yourself to Koran. You will die'. Another says: 'Hail to the courageous man who will make your corpse lie down on the ground.' In a blistering letter to Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, Lord Young of Norwood Green, General Secretary of the Free Speech Union, said: 'We consider that the risk to Mr Coskun's life was caused, in part, by the actions of your officers and the CPS. 'Your force had repeatedly suggested publicly that Mr Coskun had offended the 'religious institution of Islam'. Doing so has increased the risk to Mr Coskun from Islamic extremists.' Coskun, an atheist, says he fled Turkey two and a half years ago to escape persecution. He was living in Derby before going into hiding. After the conviction, Coskun issued a defiant statement, branding the decision an 'assault on free speech'. He said: 'As an activist, I will continue to campaign against the threat of Islam. 'Christian blasphemy laws were repealed in this country more than 15 years ago, and it cannot be right to prosecute someone for blaspheming against Islam. 'Would I have been prosecuted if I'd set fire to a copy of the Bible outside Westminster Abbey? I doubt it.' He also pledged to continue burning Korans and is planning a controversial UK tour, with stops in Birmingham, Liverpool, and Glasgow, where he intends to repeat the act. It is not clear whether this will go ahead before any potential appeal. A Met Police spokesperson confirmed: 'There remains an ongoing police investigation in relation to allegations of threats to kill against a 50-year-old male. Given the investigation is ongoing, we won't be able to comment further at this stage.' Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party, wrote on social media: 'De facto blasphemy laws will set this country on the road to ruin. This case should go to appeal. 'Freedom of belief and freedom not to believe are inalienable rights in Britain. I'll defend those rights to my dying day.' Blasphemy laws were officially abolished in the UK in 2008. Coskun was prosecuted under the Public Order Act. Originally, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) charged him with harassing the 'religious institution of Islam' – wording that sparked outrage and was later revised. The CPS insists Coskun was not prosecuted for burning the Koran itself, but rather for the combination of burning it, making inflammatory remarks, and doing so publicly. Katy Thorne KC, representing Coskun, argued that his protest was not motivated by hatred of followers of Islam, but criticism of the religion itself. However, District Judge John McGarva rejected that argument, telling the court: 'Your actions in burning the Koran where you did were highly provocative, and your actions were accompanied by bad language in some cases directed toward the religion and were motivated at least in part by hatred of followers of the religion.'
