The Dokuz8 news feed reports that Turkish magazine Gırgır has been closed due to the publication of a cartoon featuring the figure of Moses.
One of Turkey’s oldest satirical magazines #GırgırDergisi shut down over religious cartoon. pic.twitter.com/AxSn3WY14v
— dokuz8 NEWS (@dokuz8_EN) February 17, 2017
However CRNI understand that the modern incarnation of Gırgır is different from the original incarnation which at one time was the most popular in the country.
The charge of religious hatred is reflected in reports on ABC News and elsewhere. The contention that “ulterior sinister motives” were at play echoes the accusations levelled at cartoonists, journalists, media workers, public servants and academics who have been variously dismissed and jailed across Turkey under the regime of Recep Erdoğan. The President was a regular subject of fun for the magazine.
A statement from their now-defunct Twitter account apparently expressed sincere regret over any offence caused, citing “lack of sleep and exhaustion” for its appearance in print.
The front cover of the latest and evidently last issue of the magazine.
