Turkey Reacts to LeMan Cartoon: Arrests, Protests, and Accusations of Insult

A cartoon published by LeMan magazine has triggered unrest in Istanbul, leading to arrests and accusations of insulting the Prophet Muhammad. Police intervened to disperse protestors using tear gas and rubber bullets. The chief prosecutor ordered the arrest of four editors, including cartoonist Dogan Pehlevan. The controversial cartoon depicts two bearded, winged figures. Government officials and religious conservatives strongly criticized it. LeMan’s editor-in-chief, Tuncay Akgun, said the image had been misinterpreted. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed the arrests. Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said an investigation had been opened on grounds of “publicly insulting religious values”. LeMan defended the cartoon as a depiction of the suffering of a Muslim man, with no intention of disrespecting religious values. LeMan, known for its political satire, has a history of controversies.