Controversial Cartoon Sparks Debate in Turkey

Turkish authorities have detained two cartoonists following the publication of a controversial satirical cartoon in the weekly magazine Leman.

The drawing, which portrays Prophets Moses and Muhammad shaking hands amidst flying missiles, faced severe criticism from government officials and religious conservatives. While the cartoon was intended as commentary on religious harmony in contrast to earthly conflicts, it has ignited significant backlash.

Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced an ongoing investigation under Article 216 of the Penal Code for incitement to hatred, with multiple individuals under detention.

Leman magazine, addressing the uproar, expressed apologies to readers, clarifying the cartoon was misunderstood. They defended their piece, stating it aimed to highlight the conflict's impact, not to insult religious beliefs.

The incident reflects Turkey's consistently low press freedom ranking, standing 158th out of 180 countries, according to Reporters Without Borders' 2024 Press Freedom Index.

Protests erupted against Leman, echoing public outrage, while the magazine urged judicial intervention against what it described as a smear campaign.

(With inputs from agencies.)