Turkish cartoonist Bahadir Baruter will be put on trial for “insulting the religious values adopted by a part of the population.” One of his cartoons depicted a group of men in a mosque praying but Bahadir wrote the words “There is no Allah, religion is a lie” in the decorations of the wall. A few citizens caught the message and filed complaints.
When so much of the world’s people still live in countries where religious issues like blasphemy are civil offenses, I don’t think we can claim to live in modern times. Modern times have not arrived yet.
Such is the folly of religion.
While a US cartoonist wouldn’t be prosecuted for that here in the US as the law stands today, a cartoon set in a church here which contained the same message about ‘God’, would barely see the light of being published in the mainstream media, if ever. So we’re not that much farther along than Turkey on this.
I’d bet that those people who refute the separation of church and state would happily pursue similar prosecutions once they disposed of that pesky clause in the first amendment. I’m amazed that so-called patriots can hate the idea of the US so much that they want to make it look like Iran (or Turkey).
Tom,
I would agree. There is a movement afoot, stike that, a crusade to have “In God We Trust” placed in as many govt buildings as possible. Here in my hometown of Marshall,Mo. our mayor is a preacher who did this unilaterally before getting actual council approval and funding. This was all the reult of a letter from a law firm representing these guys:
http://www.ingodwetrust-america.org
They say we have to do this in order to consider ourselves patriots. Ask you can imagine I contacted the council and the mayor, as you can also imagine I got no satisfaction. The ACLU told me the motto is considered legal because it makes no mention of a specific religion.
All this “legality” of this motto and added it to money etc. happned in the 50’s during the hysteria of the “Red Scare” , godless commies and McCarthy. I find it interesting and also disturbing that religion and hysteria often go hand in hand.
In terms of my cartooing experience I have never faced a greater wrath then when I have lampooned religion and the NRA. This is also and interesting connection.
Good luck on that EU application, Turkey.
“Clinging to guns and religion”, Keith. Obama had it right. Too bad he didn’t stand by that statement instead of running away from it.
That’s a great drawing, though. I love the interior of the mosque. Lots of neat little details and a cool sense of perspective.
As for the sentiment, I can’t say as I’d bother putting that in a cartoon, but I tend to agree with him. I wonder how it got past the editor.
I forwarded this article to my Turkish mom who grew up in the time of a more ‘secular’ Istanbul.
She said, “Ataturk must be rolling in his grave!”
Does Gahan Wilson know about this dude?
To clarify, Bahadir is a really great cartoonist who appears to have been influenced by the great Gahan Wilson and I thought Gahan might appreciate it, is all…
Religion is always a tricky subject for cartoonists, mainly because our job is to be in opposition to almost everything.
Bahdadir’s artwork is excellent, his attention to detail and sense of perspective really works in this cartoon, although I’m not sure about the condoms hanging from the ceiling…
Perhaps the Pope should be notified so he can be angry with Mr Baruter too?
Man… how come I never get sued. I make fun of religion at least a couple times a month!
Did he really hide a message in the decorations, or are people just finding “patterns” in random squiggles? Most people can be induced to see patterns where none exist.
Maybe they read the cartoon backwards to get the secret message.
he is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
RUDE!!!
that’s not how you treat other religions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!