Turkey Arrests Leman Staff Over Controversial Cartoon

Turkish authorities have arrested several cartoonists and staff from the satirical magazine Leman after a controversial cartoon was published, which officials and protesters interpreted as depicting the Prophet Muhammad and Moses shaking hands amid a war scene. The incident triggered widespread outrage among government officials and religious conservatives, resulting in protests and clashes in Istanbul, including attacks on a bar frequented by Leman staffers. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya and Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc condemned the image and announced investigations under laws criminalizing public insult to religious values and incitement to hatred. Leman magazine denied that the cartoon depicted the Prophet Muhammad, explaining that the name referenced a Muslim victim of conflict, and issued an apology to readers who felt offended. Despite Turkey's secular legal framework, laws permit prosecution for insulting religious values, and authorities have vowed accountability. The case has reignited debate over freedom of expression versus protection of religious sensitivities in Turkey.