Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has labeled the publication of a cartoon depicting the Prophet Muhammad by the satirical magazine Leman as ‘a despicable provocation.’ The image, which sparked outrage across Turkey and the wider Muslim world, was described as offensive to Islamic values. Speaking at a meeting with heads of provincial committees of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Erdogan stated that ‘disrespect shown by those who do not know the rules of decency can never be accepted.’ He added, ‘This is clearly a provocation carried out under the guise of satire. It is an abhorrent act.’
The controversy erupted after the latest edition of the magazine featured a caricature showing the Prophet Muhammad and Moses as angels exchanging greetings over a Middle Eastern city under bombardment. Crowds gathered outside Leman’s offices in Istanbul late Monday, chanting slogans and attacking the building’s entrance, causing damage.
Earlier, AKP spokesperson Omer Celik condemned the cartoon, accusing Europe of Islamophobia and stating that Turkey opposes such hatred. He referred to the depiction of the Prophet as a ‘hate crime,’ adding that such acts have become increasingly common.
According to reports, the cartoon was published on June 26 but only gained attention late on June 30 via social media posts. Turkish authorities responded swiftly, arresting the cartoonist, the magazine’s illustrator, and two senior editorial staff. Arrest warrants are still pending for two other employees believed to be abroad. The magazine itself denies that the cartoon was intended to depict the Prophet Muhammad.
Tuncay Akgyun, the wanted editor-in-chief of Leman, currently in Paris, claimed the drawing does not represent the Prophet Muhammad and insisted the cartoon aims to highlight injustice against Muslims. He denied comparisons to France’s Charlie Hebdo, which faced global backlash and a deadly terrorist attack in 2015 after publishing similar content. Akgyun also accused government ministers of conspiring to shut down the magazine.
In addition to detaining six individuals associated with the publication, Turkish authorities have ordered the removal of the issue from circulation and initiated procedures to block online access to the controversial cartoon.