In Turkey, police have detained four individuals -- a cartoonist and three others -- who work for LeMan magazine after they claim a cartoon published by the magazine has been misrepresented, leading to riots and death threats in the country.
According to the magazine, a cartoon was published that featured a character named Muhammad, and not even the prophet Mohammed himself. But because many Turks thought this was a depiction of the prophet -- a major "no-no" in their religion -- these LeMan employees are doing their best to not be killed.
From NBC:
The pro-government Yeni Safak newspaper said the cartoon showed 'two figures alleged to be Prophet Muhammad and Prophet Moses — with wings and halos — shaking hands in the sky, while a war scene unfolds below with bombs raining down.'
The independent Birgun newspaper also said the winged figures hovering in the sky were interpreted by some as Prophets Muhammad and Moses.
Here is the cartoon in question:
It could easily just be a Muslim man and a Jewish man meeting in heaven. That seems to be the obvious conclusion given the backdrop of Palestine in the cartoon.
But the name Muhammad was a bridge too far.
Authorities on Monday launched an investigation into the weekly magazine over accusations of 'publicly insulting religious values' and detained the cartoonist, Dogan Pehlevan, from his home.
Again, this is in Turkey. A country who the United States is required to ally with through NATO. This isn't a backwater issue in a country no one has heard of.
It's almost like a true moderate Islamic nation isn't a real possibility.
Authorities on Monday launched an investigation into the weekly magazine over accusations of 'publicly insulting religious values' and detained the cartoonist, Dogan Pehlevan, from his home.
Overnight, LeMan's Editor-in-Chief Zafer Aknar, graphic designer Cebrail Okcu and manager Ali Yavuz were also detained, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported. Detention warrants were also issued for two editors who are believed to be abroad, the report said.
Turkey had to lock these guys up because the riots were threatening to get "mostly peaceful" as we say around these parts.
Here are some clips of the arrests and the riots:
And more protest footage:
Turkey sure seems like a fun place to visit, huh?
P.S. Now check out our latest video 👇
