27.09.2025 01:02
In the case regarding the caricatured images of Prophet Muhammad and Prophet Moses published in Leman Magazine, a decision was made to release 4 defendants.
The court has decided to release 4 defendants in the case regarding the publication of a cartoon featuring caricatures of Prophet Muhammad and Prophet Moses in Leman Magazine.
The investigation into Leman Magazine's publication of the cartoon featuring caricatures of Prophet Muhammad and Prophet Moses on June 26 was completed, and an indictment was prepared.
4 PEOPLE RELEASED
The indictment was accepted by the Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance, and it was decided that the first hearing would take place on November 14. The responsible editor Aslan Özdemir, institution director Ali Yavuz, graphic designer Cebrail Okcu, and editor Zafer Aknar appealed against their detention. The higher court, which evaluated the appeal, decided to release the 4 defendants.
REQUEST FOR UP TO 7 YEARS AND 10 MONTHS IN PRISON
In the prepared indictment, it was requested that the 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 for the crime of 'publicly inciting hatred and hostility against the public through the press and publication.'
For the suspect Doğan Pehlevan, a prison sentence of 1 year and 10 months to 7 years and 10 months was requested for the same crime of 'publicly inciting hatred and hostility against the public through the press and publication.'
WHAT DOES THE INDICTMENT CONTAIN?
In the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, institution director Ali Yavuz, responsible editor Aslan Özdemir, graphic designer Cebrail Okcu, author Doğan Pehlevan, editor Zafer Aknar, and editor-in-chief Mehmet Tuncay Akgün were listed as 'suspects.'
The indictment states that the cartoon depicting the moment bombs fell on a city, featuring representations of Prophet Muhammad and Prophet Moses on the 4th page of the magazine, contained expressions and visuals aimed at provoking incitement, and that after the publication of the magazine containing these expressions and visuals on social media and press outlets, it was shared and commented on by many accounts and groups, creating a media agenda, thus causing a clear and imminent danger to public safety by creating concern among those provoked.
The indictment indicates that the suspects acted together, creating the work in a unity of thought and action, and that they are collectively responsible for the published work. It was also noted that one of the suspects, Mehmet Tuncay Akgün, is at large and has an arrest warrant against him, while it was reported that suspect Doğan Pehlevan made a post on social media stating, "Islam is a forced deception imposed on Turks."