Another investigation into LeMan magazine

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has expanded the scope of the investigation it is conducting into LeMan magazine. In addition to the investigation opened due to a cartoon published in the June 26, 2025 issue, an examination of the magazine's financial structure has now been added. The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has created a second file to investigate whether the magazine's executives receive any financial support from within the country and, in particular, from abroad.

4 DETAINED INDIVIDUALS AT THE COURTHOUSE TODAY

Four LeMan employees, who were detained as part of the initial investigation launched on June 30, are expected to be referred to the Istanbul Courthouse today. It was learned that during the interrogation of those in custody, questions regarding financial resources were also asked. The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office is scrutinizing the magazine's economic activities in detail, in addition to the drawing.

“FINANCIAL SUPPORT IS BEING INVESTIGATED”

The Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), in a statement made via the social media platform X, included the following remarks: “Four people who were detained yesterday in the investigation into LeMan magazine are expected to be referred to the courthouse today. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office announced that in the investigation launched due to the cartoon, it is also being investigated whether the company receives ‘financial support’ from domestic and foreign sources.”

WHAT HAPPENED?

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had announced on June 30 that an investigation had been launched into a drawing in LeMan magazine regarding Prophet Muhammad and Prophet Moses. 

The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had reported that it had decided the cartoon in question was of a nature that insulted the religious beliefs of society and that detention warrants had been issued for six people.

Among the individuals in question are the creator of the cartoon, the magazine's 2 editors-in-chief, and the managing editor. While the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office stated that it would inform the public regarding developments, the magazine was targeted by some segments on digital media.

On the other hand, following the targeting of the cartoon, a group made a call in front of the magazine. The group that gathered in front of LeMan threw stones at the door, and two people entered through the main door. The group gathered in front of the magazine's door and chanted slogans.

Shortly after the investigation was launched, Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya announced on his digital media account that two magazine employees had been detained. Yerlikaya also shared footage of the moment the magazine employees were detained. In the footage, it was seen that the magazine employees were taken away with harsh police intervention. 

D.P., who drew the cartoon, graphic designer C.O., Managing Editor Z.A., and business manager A.Y. were detained. It was stated that the magazine's concessionaire and editor-in-chief T.A. and one of the managing editors, A.Ö., were abroad.

The detainees, taken into custody after the raid on Leman Magazine, were brought to the Vatan Security Directorate. The accusation against the employees was explained as "publicly insulting religious values within the scope of inciting the public to hatred and hostility." On the other hand, the Security Branch announced that the detention periods of the Leman Magazine employees in custody had been extended by one day.

LeMan magazine's Editor-in-Chief Tuncay Akgün also made a statement regarding the matter. Speaking to the France-based news agency AFP, Akgün said that the cartoon in question did not depict the prophets. Akgün stated, “In this work, a Muslim killed in Israel's bombardments in Gaza was fictionalized with the name Muhammad. More than 200 million people in the Islamic world are named Muhammad. This cartoon has nothing to do with Prophet Muhammad. We would never take such a risk.”

News Source: 12punto