ISTANBUL: On Monday, violent confrontations broke out in Istanbul as police used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse an enraged crowd following claims that a humorous publication had printed a caricature of the Prophet Muhammad, according to an AFP reporter.
The event took place following an order from Istanbul’s top public prosecutor for the detention of editors from LeMan magazine over allegations that they released a caricature deemed as "openly disrespecting sacred beliefs".
"The Office of the Chief Public Prosecutor has initiated an inquiry regarding the release of a caricature in the June 26, 2025 edition of *LeMan* magazine, which allegedly offends religious sentiments in public. Arrest orders have also been handed down for individuals implicated," stated the prosecutors' office.
An uploaded version of the grayscale picture shared online depicted two figures flying above an urban area being attacked from the air.
Salam aleikum, my name is Muhammad," said one as they shook hands. The other responded, "Walaikumsalam, I'm known as Musa.
However, the magazine’s editor-in-chief, Tuncay Akgun, said over the phone from Paris to AFP that the picture had been misunderstood and emphasized that it was "not a drawing of Prophet Muhammad."
In this piece, the identity of a Muslim casualty from Israeli bombings has been changed to 'Muhammad.' Over 200 million individuals across the Islamic world bear the name Muhammad," he explained, emphasizing that it "is not connected in any way to the Prophet Muhammad.
We would never consider taking such a chance.
When the news emerged, dozens of furious demonstrators targeted a popular hangout for LeMan employees located in central Istanbul, sparking violent confrontations with law enforcement, according to an Agence France-Presse reporter.
According to the correspondent, the skirmishes rapidly escalated into confrontations involving approximately 250 to 300 individuals.
Cartoonist, two others held
In multiple tweets, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that police have detained the cartoonist behind "this offensive illustration," along with the publication's editor-in-chief and its layout artist.
The police have also seized control of the magazine's office located on Istiklal Avenue, and arrest orders were reportedly issued for multiple senior staff members at the publication, according to a post from presidential media advisor Fahrettin Altin on X.
In several posts on X, LeMan justified the cartoon, stating that it was intentionally misunderstood to create controversy.
"The cartoonist aimed to highlight the justice of the oppressed Muslim community by illustrating a scenario where a Muslim was killed by Israel; his intention was not to undermine religious principles," it stated.
Akgun described the legal assault on the publication—a longstanding satirical voice of dissent established in 1991—as "deeply disturbing yet hardly unexpected."
"This constitutes an act of destruction. The ministers themselves are part of this entire affair; even a cartoon has been twisted," he stated.
He expressed concern over deliberate comparisons being made between this situation and *Charlie Hebdo*, referring to the French satirical publication that was attacked by Islamist militants who raided their office in 2015.
The assault, resulting in twelve fatalities, took place following the publication of cartoons mocking the Prophet Muhammad.
‘A very systematic provocation’
"There seems to be some sort of pattern at play, almost like a repetition of past events. It feels highly orchestrated," Akgün remarked.
An inquiry has been initiated by Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç based on allegations of "publicly disrespecting religious sentiments."
"Any form of disrespect toward our faiths cannot be tolerated," he posted on X.
No liberty gives anyone the permission to turn the holy principles of faith into crude jokes. Depicting our Prophet through cartoons or any kind of imagery does more than just hurt religious sentiments—it disrupts social harmony as well.
The Istanbul Governor, Davut Gül, strongly criticized "the mindset that aims to stir up societal tensions by targeting our revered values."
He cautioned, “We will not stay quiet when confronted with any despicable action aimed at harming our country’s belief.”