A root organization for worldwide advocates of freedom of expression, International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) launched a campaign on the social media for the cartoon, “World of Tayyips”, which led to the arrest of four university students and investigations against Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader and MPs, with the hashtags #WorldofTayyips/#tayyipleralemi.
IFEX pointed out to cartoons being used by the turkish government as a tool to declare criticism as a crime and invited all advocates of freedom of expression around the world to share the cartoon on the social media “to tell Turkey that satire is not a crime and for solidarity with those under judiciary threat.” In the campaign text, IFEX stated, “Satire aimed at political leaders is a fundamental expression right. We stand with those arrested for sharing the cartoon in Turkey.” Please click to join the campaign: https://www.ifex.org/turkey/2018/08/02/world_of_tayyips/
Background Information
The cartoon, “World of Tayyips,” was published on the cover of Penguen Magazine on its 24 February 2005 issue following the penalty issued against Cumhuriyet cartoonist Musa Kart over drawing him has a cat tangled in yarn. The judicial process started by Erdoğan with 40 thousand TL compensation claim was denied by Ankara 1st Civil Court of First Instance in 2006.
On July 6, 2018, during graduation ceremonies at the Middle East Technical University-Ankara, a copy of 'World of Tayyips” was carried by students alongside other humorous posters, a common practice at the university. In response, the Chief Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation and charged the students who carried the banner with "insulting the president." Four students were arrested on July 11 and remain in detention.
Later, an investigation was opened against Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kılıçdaroğlu, who shared the cartoon on Twitter by saying, “You will tolerate criticism and satire, you must! You can not prevent satire and criticism by jailing people.” Erdoğan filed criminal complaints against 72 other CHP MPs, who shared the cartoon on the social media.
03.08.2018
dusun-think.net