Istanbul Clashes Erupt Over Alleged Prophet Mohammed Cartoon in LeMan Magazine
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What sparked the protests and arrests in Istanbul?
Tensions in Istanbul escalated into violent street clashes on Monday following allegations that LeMan, a well-known satirical magazine, published a cartoon perceived to depict the Prophet Mohammed. The city’s chief prosecutor issued arrest warrants for the magazine’s editors, stating that the image “publicly insulted religious values.”
“The chief public prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into the publication of a cartoon in the June 26, 2025 issue of LeMan magazine that publicly insults religious values, and arrest warrants have been issued for those involved,” the statement read.
The cartoon, posted widely on social media, shows two characters hovering over a city under bombardment. One says, “Salam aleikum, I’m Mohammed,” to which the other responds, “Aleikum salam, I’m Musa.”
LeMan’s editor-in-chief, Tuncay Akgun, speaking to AFP from Paris, denied the cartoon depicted the Prophet. “In this work, the name of a Muslim who was killed in the bombardments of Israel is fictionalised as Mohammed. More than 200 million people in the Islamic world are named Mohammed,” he explained. “We would never take such a risk.”
How did the situation escalate on the ground?
As news spread, dozens of protesters attacked a bar frequently visited by LeMan staff in downtown Istanbul. The protest quickly spiraled into larger clashes involving around 250 to 300 people, according to AFP reporters on the scene. Police used rubber bullets and tear gas to control the crowd.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed on X that police had arrested the cartoonist, the editor-in-chief, and the graphic designer. Meanwhile, the magazine’s offices on Istiklal Avenue were taken over by authorities. Additional arrest warrants were issued for other editorial staff, according to presidential press aide Fahrettin Altin.
What are the broader reactions to the controversy?
Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc weighed in by saying, “Disrespect towards our beliefs is never acceptable,” adding that “no freedom grants the right to make the sacred values of a belief the subject of ugly humour.”
The Istanbul governor, Davut Gul, echoed the sentiment. “We will not remain silent in the face of any vile act targeting our nation’s faith,” he said.
LeMan has stood by its cartoon, claiming it was misinterpreted. “The cartoonist wanted to portray the righteousness of the oppressed Muslim people by depicting a Muslim killed by Israel, he never intended to belittle religious values,” the magazine wrote on X.
Akgun described the backlash as “an act of annihilation” and warned against comparisons with Charlie Hebdo, the French magazine attacked in 2015. “Drawing similarities with Charlie Hebdo is very intentional and very worrying,” he said, calling the response “a very systematic provocation and attack.”
By Lucky Anyanje
