A satirical cartoon published by Turkish magazine Leman has triggered widespread outrage in Turkey, after accusations emerged that it depicted the Prophet Muhammad, a depiction considered deeply offensive in Islam.
Hundreds gathered outside the magazine’s Istanbul offices on Monday evening, chanting slogans, praying, and- in some cases- attempting to damage the premises. By nightfall, three staff members had been arrested: the cartoonist, the publication director, and the editor-in-chief. Warrants have been issued for at least three more individuals.
Authorities accuse the magazine of “publicly insulting religious values,” a criminal offence under Article 216 of the Turkish penal code. The issue featuring the controversial cartoon, released on 26 June, was ordered withdrawn from circulation, and steps were taken to block access to the image online.
The cartoon in question appeared to show Muhammad and Moses greeting each other over a bombed Middle Eastern city- a possible reference to the war in Gaza. The magazine denies that the figure represents the Prophet Muhammad, insisting it refers to another Muslim man killed in the conflict.
Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç announced that prosecutors had launched a formal investigation. “No freedom gives the right to mock the sacred values of a religion,” he said. “Attempts to depict or ridicule our prophet not only insult our beliefs but harm social peace.”
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya echoed the sentiment, calling the cartoon “obscene” and warning that “those who provoke society by insulting religious values will be held accountable before the law.”
In a public statement, Leman rejected the accusations: “The name Muhammad is the most common in the world. Our cartoon referred to an oppressed Muslim, not the Prophet. We have never portrayed or mocked sacred religious figures. To interpret this as a depiction of the Prophet requires deliberate bad faith.”
The magazine noted that it has frequently addressed the Palestine issue and called the backlash a distortion of intent.
The Turkey cartoon outrage comes amid heightened political and religious sensitivities in the region, as conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon inflame public opinion across the Muslim world.
LeMan dergisinin, Peygamber Efendimiz’in (s.a.v.) mübarek şemailini çizerek sergilediği bu alçakça hadsizliği nefretle kınıyoruz! Manevi değerlerimize yönelik bu iğrenç saygısızlık asla kabul edilemez. Bu ahlaksızlığa sessiz kalmayacağız, lanetliyoruz!#lemandergisikapatılsın pic.twitter.com/s3zNJiaDVv
— EBS İstanbul 9 🇹🇷 (@ebsist9) June 30, 2025
Also read: ECHR orders Turkey to pay fine for Famagusta property
For more videos and updates, check out our YouTube channel.
