“Charlie Hebdo” shows a caricature of Erdogan in his underwear – he reacts with anger

The cover of the French satirical newspaper “Charlie Hebdo” shows the Turkish president in his underwear and with a can of beer in his hand. The Ankara Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attacked the French satirical newspaper “Charlie Hebdo” for a caricature of it. He called the paper bad guys and talked about a “repulsive attack”. He didn’t even look at the drawing because he “didn’t want to honor such immoral publications.”

“I have nothing to say to these bad guys, who insult my beloved prophet to such an extent,” Erdogan told members of his party in parliament. He was “sad and frustrated,” not because of the attack on him, but because of the insults against the Prophet Muhammad.

Erdogan in his underwear and with beer in his hand

“Charlie Hebdo” ran a cartoon on the front page of Wednesday’s edition showing Erdogan in shirt and underwear with a can of beer. Erdogan then lifts a veiled woman’s skirt with the words “Ooh, the Prophet” and reveals her bare bottom. The comic is titled with the words: “Erdogan: It’s a lot of fun in private”. The issue was posted online Tuesday evening.

(Source: dpa)

Turkey has therefore already announced legal and diplomatic steps. The Ankara Public Prosecutor’s Office opened an investigation into the management of “Charlie Hebdo”. Erdogan’s comic fueled the latest escalation of controversy between French President Emmanuel Macron and the Turkish head of state.

The French government defends “Charlie Hebdo”

The French government therefore reaffirmed the protection of freedom of expression. “Despite the intimidation, France will never give up its principles and values,” government spokesman Gabriel Attal said Wednesday in Paris after a cabinet meeting.

Attal announced that the non-governmental organization Baraka City would be dissolved in the fight against radical Islamism. The move was no surprise. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin had already announced the dissolution of the organization after the fatal attack on master Samuel Paty.

Tensions on the cartoons of Muhammad

The latest tensions were triggered by Macron’s statements in defense of freedom of expression after the Islamist attack on a teacher near Paris who showed Mohammed cartoons of “Charlie Hebdo” in his classroom.

The French president then stressed freedom of expression and said that such caricatures will continue to be shown in France. In response, Erdogan called for a boycott of French goods and asked Macron to have his “state of mind” examined.