Turkish Police Arrest Magazine Staff Amid Protests Over Prophet Muhammad Cartoon

A Turkish satirical magazine, Leman, has ignited nationwide outrage after publishing a cartoon that many interpreted as depicting the Prophet Muhammad alongside Moses over a bombed city, presumed to be Gaza. Despite the magazine's denial, stating the figure named Muhammad was a generic Muslim individual symbolizing the oppressed rather than the Prophet himself, authorities reacted strongly, arresting four key staff members, including the editor-in-chief and cartoonist, on charges of publicly insulting religious values. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the cartoon as a "vile provocation" and a hate crime, while Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya shared footage of the arrests and vowed legal accountability. The incident prompted violent protests outside Leman's Istanbul offices, where demonstrators chanted for revenge and clashed with riot police who used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowds. Authorities also confiscated the magazine's issue containing the cartoon and blocked access to its social media within Turkey, with legal investigations ongoing amid strong government efforts to suppress dissent related to the matter. Several human rights groups criticized the arrests as a crackdown on free expression, highlighting the tense balance between religious sensitivities and press freedom in Turkey.