02.07.2025 17:42
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reacted to Özgür Özel's remarks about the Leman magazine during the "AK Party Women's Branch General Center R&D Presidency Organization Academy Leadership School Camp Program." Erdoğan stated, "If Özel cannot see the insult, disgrace, and provocation that millions have witnessed, he should look for the problem not in others, but in himself. Özgür, go see an eye doctor."
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had launched an investigation against the Leman magazine regarding the publication of a cartoon depicting the Prophet Muhammad for the crime of "openly insulting religious values." The cartoon, which has been the focus of reactions, also drew criticism from politicians.
CHP Chairman Özgür Özel commented on the scandalous cartoon in Leman magazine, saying, "I took a look at the cartoon. I could have followed someone without looking at the cartoon, but that would be the easy way out. I say that I looked at it as Özgür Özel and what I saw. I call on the conscience-having conservatives, the conservative community, and even the cartoonists from here; turn back and take a look. When I looked, I saw an angel with wings who lost their life under bombardment in Gaza. With a headscarf and wings. It encounters another angel killed by a different bomb. It is a cartoon depicting that those who bear the name of the Prophet are dying here, and it has been explained in this way. But it's easy, there's an opportunity; 'they drew the Prophet's picture, attack Leman!' That Leman drew a support cartoon for the Mavi Marmara while you all were silent, it is the Leman that stood against trade with Israel, and it made motokurye Samet the cover. I do not allow any disrespect towards the Prophet Muhammad, but I will not remain silent about that social lynching over a disrespect that has not been committed; everyone should know how to stay in the right place!"
"ÖZGÜR, GO SEE A DOCTOR"
President Erdoğan responded to Özel's remarks, saying, "Thank God we are Muslims. Özel, if you cannot see the insult, disgrace, and provocation that millions have seen, do not look for the problem in others, look for it in yourself. Özgür, go see an eye doctor. You defend corruption and fraudsters. But why do you defend this arrogance? Why do you stand by the shameless? In such a sensitive matter, do you never ask yourself what you are doing? The reason for this mental blackout is clear. He does not look at politics from where the nation looks. The CHP has a very serious political direction problem. The CHP is becoming increasingly marginal. The main opposition party in Turkey is currently not being managed; it is being dragged like a ship with a locked steering wheel. There is no place to go in Turkey with politics of tension, hatred, and polarization. This nation is a nation with foresight."