The French satirical magazine “Charlie Hebdo” caused a sensation with a caricature by Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Now a lawyer is demanding criminal consequences.
Ankara - The French satirical magazine “Charlie Hebdo” is threatened with a sequel to a caricature of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
According to the state news agency Anadolu, a Turkish public prosecutor is taking action against four representatives of the magazine.
The lawyer is demanding up to four years imprisonment for the author of the caricature and three senior editors for "insulting" the president.
The publication of the cartoon last October had further deepened tensions between Paris and Ankara.
The caricature on the cover of "Charlie Hebdo" showed Erdogan in underpants with a can of beer, lifting the skirt of a veiled woman with the words "Ooh, the Prophet" and exposing her bare bottom.
Erdogan spoke of a "disgusting attack" at the time.
Lawsuit over Erdogan caricature?
Attorney does not see drawing as part of freedom of expression or freedom of the press
In his indictment, the prosecutor described the drawing as "vulgar, obscene and defamatory".
It falls “in no way under the freedom of expression or freedom of the press”.
For a trial, however, the indictment still has to be formally accepted by a court.
The international organization "Reporters Without Borders" accused Turkey on Friday of wanting to extend its censorship to other countries.
Video: With this magazine cover, "Charlie Hebdo" provoked the Turkish head of state Erdogan
Lawsuit over Erdogan caricature?
Magazine cover caused tension between Ankara and Paris
The tensions were triggered last year by statements by French President Emmanuel Macron after an Islamist attack on a teacher near Paris who had shown Mohammed caricatures by "Charlie Hebdo" in his class.
In the name of freedom of the press, Macron defended the republication of the Mohammed cartoons by “Charlie Hebdo”.
A law with which Macron intends to step up action against Islamists after the attacks in Paris and Nice and to limit the influence of Turkey and other countries on French mosques also met with sharp criticism.
A few days ago, Macron warned Turkey against “attempts to interfere” in the presidential election next year - in Paris it is feared that Erdogan could call on voters of Turkish origin to vote against Macron.
(afp)