Semra Pelek
An Istanbul court has ordered the release of Doğan Pehlevan, a cartoonist for the Turkish satirical magazine LeMan, who was jailed over a controversial cartoon published in June. However, Pehlevan will remain in prison due to a separate pretrial detention order related to charges of “insulting the president.”
At the first hearing of the case on Friday, the 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance in Istanbul also lifted all judicial control measures—such as travel bans—imposed on the other defendants, all current or former employees of LeMan.
The trial stems from a cartoon published in the June 26, 2025 issue of LeMan, which critics claimed depicted the Prophet Muhammad. The cartoon was denounced on social media, prompting a mob attack outside the magazine’s Istanbul office and leading to criminal charges of “inciting hatred and hostility through the press” against six staff members.
Pehlevan: “This cartoon is a message of peace; I didn’t draw the prophet”
Speaking via video link from prison, Pehlevan rejected the accusations, saying the cartoon was misunderstood. “I had no intent to incite hatred or hostility, as alleged in the indictment,” he said. “On the contrary, I raise my 10-year-old son with respect for social values. I’ve been in solitary confinement for five months. My family and I are suffering.”
Pehlevan clarified that the figures in the cartoon were not religious icons. “One is a modern Jewish man, the other a regular Arab,” he said. “I grew up in this country—I know the prophet cannot be drawn.” He said the cartoon criticizes war, not religion. “The dialogue in the cartoon imagines people killed in war becoming brothers in God’s presence. It’s not provocation—it’s a genuine call for peace.”
Defense lawyer: “Presumption of innocence completely violated”
Kerem Altıparmak, Pehlevan’s attorney, argued that the proceedings violated his client’s basic rights. He criticized public statements made by the ministers of justice and interior before the trial, which he said undermined the presumption of innocence.
Altıparmak also pointed to how handcuffed photos of Pehlevan were circulated in the media and questioned why a terror bureau had led the investigation despite no terrorism-related charges. “This process was flawed from the start,” he said, claiming the indictment was designed to create public outrage, not uphold the law.
He argued that the cartoon should be protected under freedom of expression and said the prosecution lacked any concrete evidence of the alleged crime. “The cartoon hasn’t even been debated in court. My client has been condemned in a climate of hysteria and chaos,” Altıparmak said.
Citing rulings by Turkey’s Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights, he said the conditions required to charge someone under Article 216 of the Turkish Penal Code—which criminalizes incitement to hatred—had not been met.
Altıparmak presented an enlarged copy of the cartoon in court, emphasizing its anti-war message. He said assumptions about the characters being prophets were unfounded. “Has anyone here seen a prophet?” he asked, arguing that the interpretation was speculative.
He also pointed to the broader campaign against LeMan, reminding the court that the magazine’s office was attacked. “What incited hatred and hostility here wasn’t the cartoon—it was the lynch mob,” he said. He argued that the real offenders were the assailants and that the trial was based on public pressure, not legal merit.
“My dignity was violated,” says defendant Özdemir
Defendant Aslan Özdemir told the court he had been abroad when the cartoon was published and returned voluntarily to Turkey upon hearing of the warrant. “I wasn’t arrested at the airport—I turned myself in,” he said. “Despite my cooperation, I was handcuffed from behind, my head forced down. My human dignity was violated, my rights were trampled.”
Özdemir said he spent three months in solitary confinement and suffered both financially and emotionally. He asked the court to acquit him and lift all judicial restrictions.
Another defendant, Cebrail Okçu, who was recently released, also denied wrongdoing. “I was released on Tuesday, and by Wednesday I was at my local mosque. The people there know me—they hugged me and said ‘welcome back,’” he said.
Okçu emphasized his conservative background. “I come from a devout family. I attend Friday prayers and observe religious holidays,” he said. He added that he had no decision-making role in the cartoon’s publication. “My job was to lay out the pages and place the cartoons and texts. I don’t even read the articles—I’m just racing to get the issue to the printer,” he said.
Defendant Ali Yavuz told the court, “I’m the magazine’s accountant. I have nothing to do with editorial decisions.”
Zafer Aknar, another defendant, said he was also abroad when the cartoon was published and hadn’t been involved with the magazine for two years. Though named as the editor-in-chief in the indictment, Aknar said he had no actual editorial responsibilities and asked to be acquitted.
“First time in Turkey a graphic designer is asked if he saw the cartoon”
Defense attorney Fikret İlkiz criticized the prosecution’s reliance on Article 216/1 of the penal code, arguing that the case should have been filed under Turkey’s Press Law. “The prosecutor knows the Press Law, yet still framed this as a criminal conspiracy. That’s a political choice,” he said.
İlkiz pointed out that legally, only the author of a cartoon can be held responsible under Turkish law. “For the first time in Turkey, a graphic designer is being asked, ‘Did you see the cartoon?’” he said. “Why did we even amend the Press Law if this is how it's going to be applied?”
He also objected to charges being brought against the accountant, the graphic designer, and the editorial staff. “I helped draft this law,” he said. “And now it’s being ignored.”
İlkiz concluded that the case was unlawfully built and should be dismissed. “This case should have been brought under the Press Law, not the penal code,” he said.
The prosecution also recommended rejecting a request by a man named Süleyman Aslan to join the case as a plaintiff, saying he had not been harmed by the alleged offense. Defense attorneys agreed, with Altıparmak questioning Aslan’s identity and relevance: “Is he representing a religious group? If we allow this, where will it end?”
Court releases all defendants but one remains jailed on separate charge
The court ruled to release Pehlevan and lifted all judicial control orders for the other defendants. However, Pehlevan remains in prison due to his detention in a separate case in which he is accused of “insulting the president,” a criminal offense in Turkey under Article 299 of the penal code.
The next hearing is scheduled for May 5, 2026, at 2:30 p.m.
Background: Cartoon sparked outrage, mob attack
The controversy began after LeMan published a cartoon in its June 26, 2025 issue that was meant as a critique of war. Social media users claimed the cartoon featured a depiction of the Prophet Muhammad, prompting a wave of online backlash and physical attacks. A mob gathered on the street where LeMan’s office is located, leading to a violent incident.
While no legal action was taken against the attackers, authorities launched a criminal investigation into the magazine’s staff. Editor-in-chief Zafer Aknar, cartoonist Doğan Pehlevan, layout designer Cebrail Okçu, and managing director Ali Yavuz were arrested. A warrant was issued for editor Aslan Özdemir.
Four defendants were released following a custody review on Sept. 26, but Pehlevan remained jailed.
