Cartoon by Seyfi Sahin in the latest GirGir magazine
In February 2017, the Turkish publishing house Estetik closed its magazine GirGir, which was distributed as a free weekly supplement of the daily "Sözcü," and fired all its employees.
Enlarge turkish publisher closes its satirical magazine for "offending religious values"
The publishers said they were closing the satirical magazine, one of the most widely read in Turkey, because of a cartoon that was deemed offensive to Jews and Muslims.
The company apologised in a statement:
"We apologise to all those we may have hurt with this terrible cartoon, we did not realise before the magazine went to print due to lack of sleep and exhaustion."
The lawyer representing Girgir magazine then announced to the media that the company would file criminal lawsuits against the cartoonist and any other magazine workers connected with the publication of the cartoon. And so it has been.
The accusation has come from the KüçükçekmeceChief Public Prosecutor's Office.
The cartoonist, Seyfi Sahin, may end up behind bars "for insulting sacred values" after being denounced by the magazine where he worked.
The prosecution is seeking 18 months in prison for Seyfi Sahin , although this could be increased to one year and nine months.
During the trial, which began on Tuesday 18 July and which Sahin did not attend, his lawyer, among other things, said that he did not intend to insult the prophet of a religion and that many similar cartoons are published in humour magazines.
The court ruled that Sahin should be compelled to appear to testify.(Source)
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