Widespread outrage has erupted among civil society groups and legal experts in Turkey after cartoonists and managers from the satirical magazine LeMan were detained over a controversial cartoon. Veysel Ok, co-director of the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), urged authorities to immediately take action to ensure the safety of those targeted and to uphold freedom of expression.
“It is unlawful to subject people exercising their freedom of expression through a cartoon to mistreatment and detention under the accusation of ‘insulting religious values,’” Ok said, calling on authorities to respect the law. He stressed that LeMan had already clarified that the figures in the cartoon did not depict the Prophet Muhammad. “Even if a non-violent image or statement disturbs or offends a large part of society, or is seen as provocative, it is still protected by freedom of expression. The only limit here is violence. In this incident, the only side that used violence was the groups who organized the attack. Of course, people have the right to protest LeMan, but these protests must remain peaceful,” he said.
The controversy stems from a cartoon published in the June 26 edition of LeMan, which satirized the Iran-Israel war. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on June 30 launched an investigation under Article 216/3 of the Turkish Penal Code for “publicly insulting religious values.” That same evening, police raided the homes of five LeMan employees, including the cartoonist, and detained them. Footage showing the cartoonists handcuffed behind their backs and allegedly mistreated during detention sparked public outrage. LeMan issued a statement rejecting the accusations, saying, “There is no depiction of our Prophet.”
On July 1, the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) blocked access to LeMan’s website, leman.com.tr.
Rights groups condemn police conduct
MLSA’s Veysel Ok insisted that the cartoon was a peaceful expression of opinion and did not constitute hate speech or insult. “Attacking press freedom and freedom of expression under the pretext of religious sensitivity ignores the rule of law. The intervention against LeMan staff is arbitrary and unlawful. We call on the authorities to comply with the law immediately,” he said.
The Human Rights Association (İHD) also condemned the treatment of the detainees, saying, “We denounce the interior minister’s dissemination of images of the cartoonist’s detention and the attempt to legitimize this treatment. These images are evidence of the crime of torture.” The İHD reminded the public that Turkish law and international treaties prohibit mistreatment and the dissemination of such footage, calling on the Interior Minister to respect the law.
The Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD) described the cartoon as anti-war artistic expression and said it contained no criminal elements. The group claimed LeMan had been systematically targeted and that everyone from the cartoonist to the accounting manager had been detained and mistreated. “Reverse handcuffing, dragging detainees on the ground — these are clear evidence of torture,” the ÇHD said, also criticizing the interior minister for releasing the footage. “We will not allow torturer police officers to be absolved,” the group added.
The Istanbul Medical Chamber (İTO) joined the condemnation, saying, “Dragging compliant individuals on the ground with reverse handcuffs and forcing them to walk barefoot violates Turkish law and international agreements.”
Magazine building attacked after investigation launched
Shortly after the investigation was made public, religious militants attacked LeMan’s offices in Beyoğlu, a central district in Istanbul known for its nightlife and cultural venues. Videos circulated on social media showed attackers smashing the magazine’s windows, breaking down its doors, and attacking nearby cafes and bars. Journalist Eylül Deniz reported that the attackers also physically assaulted civilians in the Mis Street area.
Cartoon depicts Iran-Israel conflict through religious figures
The disputed cartoon satirically referenced the Iran-Israel conflict by depicting two figures named Moses and Muhammad greeting each other among the ruins of Middle Eastern cities with the phrases “Selamün Aleyküm” and “Aleyhem Shalom.”
Pro-government outlets and ministers escalate tensions
Following the launch of the investigation, the state-run Anadolu Agency labeled the cartoon “anti-Muslim.” Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç declared, “No freedom grants the right to make the sacred values of a faith the subject of vile humor. This damages social peace.” Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya called the cartoonist “the scoundrel who drew that vile image” and shared footage of the detention.
The four detainees are expected to be referred to court after their defense statements. Human rights defenders and legal experts say they will continue to monitor the case closely.
