4 defendants released in Leman magazine cartoon investigation

The investigation into Leman magazine's publication on June 26 of a cartoon featuring caricatured images of Prophet Muhammad and Prophet Moses was completed, and an indictment was prepared.

The indictment was accepted by the Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance, and it was decided that the first hearing would be held on November 14. Responsible editor-in-chief Aslan Özdemir, institution manager Ali Yavuz, graphic designer Cebrail Okcu, and editor-in-chief Zafer Aknar appealed their detention. The higher court, which evaluated the appeal, decided to release the 4 defendants.

FROM THE INDICTMENT

In the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, institution manager Ali Yavuz, responsible editor-in-chief Aslan Özdemir, graphic designer Cebrail Okcu, the creator of the work Doğan Pehlevan, editor-in-chief Zafer Aknar, and editor-in-chief Mehmet Tuncay Akgün were included as 'suspects'. The indictment noted that the cartoon on the 4th page of the magazine, which depicted Prophet Muhammad and Prophet Moses and showed the moment bombs were falling on a city, contained expressions and images aimed at exhibiting provocative attitudes and behaviors. It was recorded that after the magazine containing these expressions and images was published on social media and in press outlets, it was shared and commented on by many accounts and groups, creating an agenda in the media, thereby creating an effect that would cause concern in the eyes of those provoked and resulting in a clear and imminent danger to public safety. The indictment, which stated that the suspects acted together, expressed that the suspects created and published the work in the magazine in unity of thought and action and were jointly responsible for the published work. Additionally, it was stated that suspect Mehmet Tuncay Akgün is a fugitive and has an arrest warrant against him, while it was also reported that suspect Doğan Pehlevan had made a post on social media stating, "Islam is a stake forced upon the Turks."

UP TO 7 YEARS AND 10 MONTHS OF IMPRISONMENT REQUESTED FOR THE CREATOR OF THE WORK

In the prepared indictment, it was requested that suspects Ali Yavuz, Aslan Özdemir, Cebrail Okcu, Zafer Aknar, and Mehmet Tuncay Akgün be sentenced to 1 year and 6 months to 4 years and 6 months in prison each for the crime of 'publicly inciting the public to hatred and hostility through the press and media'. For suspect Doğan Pehlevan, a prison sentence of 1 year and 10 months to 7 years and 10 months was requested for the crime of 'publicly inciting the public to hatred and hostility through the press and media' in a chain manner.