Turkey arrests journalists over cartoon allegedly depicting prophet Muhammad
What's the story
Clashes broke out in Istanbul, Turkey, on Monday, with police firing rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse a throng following reports that a satirical magazine had published a cartoon of Prophet Muhammad. As the news spread, enraged demonstrators stormed a club frequented by LeMan employees, resulting in violent clashes with police, per AFP. The scuffles quickly escalated into clashes involving 250 to 300 people. Protesters also gathered outside LeMan's offices chanting, "Tooth for tooth, blood for blood, revenge, revenge."
Arrests and defense
Interior minister announced arrest of cartoonist
In a post on X, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that the police had arrested the cartoonist responsible for the image as well as the magazine's graphic designer. "These shameless individuals will be held accountable before the law," he said. The city's chief prosecutor ordered the arrest of the magazine's editors for "publicly insulting religious values." Four employees of the satirical magazine LeMan have been arrested over the caricature.
Twitter Post
Cartoon depicts prophets Moses and Muhammad shaking hands
Bu karikatür için LeMan saldırıya uğramış…
— Cenevre Hanim #Freeİmamoğlu 🇹🇷 (@cenevrehanim) June 30, 2025
Ben hakkaten şaşkınım bu kadar bağnazlık normal değil!!! pic.twitter.com/G6hkwhfgOZ
Apology issued
LeMan magazine apologized to readers
The magazine, however, defended its work by clarifying that it was not intended to insult Islam or its prophet and that the cartoon was misinterpreted. "The cartoonist wanted to portray the righteousness of...oppressed Muslim people by depicting a Muslim killed by Israel, he never intended to belittle religious values," it said. "We do not accept the stigma imposed on us because there is no depiction of our prophet. It takes a very malicious person to interpret the cartoon...this way."
Freedom of expression
Turkey ranks low in Press Freedom Index
LeMan, founded in 1991, is known for its political satire and has long been a target of conservatives, particularly after its support for France's Charlie Hebdo. In 2015, Islamist gunmen had attacked Charlie Hebdo's Paris offices over the magazine's publication of caricatures of the prophet Muhammad, killing 12 people. Turkey's Press Freedom Index ranking is consistently low, with Reporters Without Borders placing it 158th out of 180 countries in the 2024 index.