Turkey arrests cartoonist accused of depicting Prophet Mohammed

The publication of a drawing considered blasphemous by some sparked violent protests in central Istanbul on Monday, June 30, according to an AFP correspondent. The illustration appeared in the June 26 issue of the satirical magazine Leman and was interpreted by some as a depiction of the Prophet Mohammed. However, the magazine’s editorial team strongly rejected this interpretation, calling it a «malicious reading» of the scene, which shows two characters—Mohammed and Moses—greeting each other against a sky darkened by bombings.

Tensions escalated quickly when a group of several dozen protesters moved toward a bar frequented by magazine staff, located in an alley near Istiklal Avenue. The crowd rapidly swelled to nearly 300 people. Police responded with rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the demonstrators.

The incident drew attention at the highest levels of government. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed the arrest of four individuals, including the cartoonist, identified by the initials D.P., and several editorial managers. «These shameless individuals will have to answer for their actions in court», he wrote on X. The Ministry of Justice also issued six arrest warrants, targeting notably the editor-in-chief and publication director, both currently abroad.

In response, Leman’s editor-in-chief, Tuncay Akgun, denounced the arrests as a political move. «This drawing has nothing to do with the Prophet. It depicts a fictional character named Mohammed, killed in Israeli bombings. More than 200 million people in the Muslim world share this name», he explained, accusing authorities of trying to silence a critical press. «This is an act of annihilation», he said, stressing that his magazine, founded in 1991, has long faced pressure from conservatives.

Despite the controversy, Leman stands by its original message: condemning the oppression of Muslim civilians. «The cartoonist wanted to highlight the suffering of oppressed Muslim people», the editorial team said, assuring that the artwork «never intended to insult religious beliefs».