Tensions between France and Turkey escalated again after Charlie Hebdo published a cartoon of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lifting up a Muslim woman’s skirt.
The row began after French President Emmanuel Macron defended the right of his citizens to publish depictions of the Prophet Mohammed, which is not allowed in Islam. Macron’s statements came after a French teacher, who showed his students a picture of Muhammad, was decapitated by an Islamist, sparking demonstrations in support of free speech.
Erdogan sparked controversy when he called for a boycott of French goods and said his fellow NATO leader needed “mental treatment.” Charlie Hebdo, a French satirical newsletter that has printed pictures of Muhammad in the past, responded by splashing a mocking caricature of Erdogan across the cover of its publication.
The cartoon depicted the Turkish leader holding a drink while he lifted the skirt of a woman carrying alcohol and wearing Islamic clothing, exposing her bare buttocks.
French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo responds to President of Turkey #Erdoğan after he attacked France. pic.twitter.com/eCjixtGit6
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) October 27, 2020
Erdogan’s spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin, blasted Charlie Hebdo on Wednesday.
“We strongly condemn the publication concerning our president of the French magazine, which has no respect to faith, the sacred and values,” Kalin said over Twitter, according to a translation by the Associated Press. “The aim of these publications, that are devoid of morality and decency, is to sow seeds of hatred and animosity. To turn freedom of expression into hostility towards religion and belief can only be the product of a sick mentality.”
An official investigation was reportedly launched by Turkish authorities into the cartoon as insulting the president is a crime of up to four years in prison in Turkey. A statement released by the Turkish communications directorate added that “legal and diplomatic actions” are being pursued.
Erdogan himself claimed he hasn’t seen his depiction in Charlie Hebdo.
“I consider it wrong to look at these immoral publications … scoundrels who insult our beloved Prophet,” Erdogan told his country’s parliament. “I believe the enemies of Turkey and Islam are going to drown in a swamp of hatred and animosity in the name of freedom. It’s a sign that Europe has returned to the dark ages.”
Charlie Hebdo has suffered for expressing its right to free speech in the past. In 2012, a dozen people were slaughtered at the newsletter’s office when gunmen stormed the building and opened fire in response to the publication’s move to print photos of Muhammad.
The entire sequence of events, including boycotts from companies in other Muslim-majority countries, began with the beheading of French teacher Samuel Paty. Paty was decapitated earlier this month by Chechen Abdullakh Anzorov, 18, who was later killed by police. The resulting public outcry brought about sweeping raids across the country against Islamist extremists.
French government spokesman Gabriel Attal expressed defiance in the face of the pressure from Erdogan and other Muslim leaders who have attacked France’s long-held tradition of free expression.
“France will never renounce its principles and values, and notably the freedom of expression and freedom of publication,” Attal said.
“It was hateful comments toward journalists, toward a newsroom, that led to the bloodshed we have seen in recent years in our country,” he added in reference to the 2012 attack against Charlie Hebdo.
European leaders, including Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, have come to the defense of France and Macron.
“President Erdogan’s words addressing President [Macron] are unacceptable. The Netherlands stands firmly with France and for the collective values of the European Union. For the freedom of speech and against extremism and radicalism,” Rutte said after Erdogan’s initial call for a boycott.
The United States has not gotten too involved in the row. A State Department spokesperson told the Washington Examiner that the U.S. “strongly believes that unnecessary Alliance infighting only serves our adversaries.”
