Turkish Cypriot daily lands in hot water over ‘vulgar’ Erdogan cartoon

Turkish Cypriot daily, Afrika has come under fire and might face prosecution for publishing a cartoon depicting a Greek statue urinating on the head of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

According to media report on Monday, Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister responsible for Cyprus Affairs, Recep Akdag, has called on ‘prosecutors’ in the TRNC to bring the daily to justice.

Afrika found itself in hot water after publishing the cartoon, which originally appeared in a Greek newspaper, last Thursday during Erdogan's official visit to Athens last week. 

Afrika posted the cartoon under the title “Through Greek eyes”.

Akdag described the image as ‘shameful, dishonourable and vulgar’.

Those who did this will be asked to answer to the justice. I will personally do my utmost for this immorality on behalf of the Turkish Cypriot people to be punished, Akdag said to Anadolu agency.

He also criticised Afrika and its columnists for lacking ‘national spirit’ and for writing not on behalf of the Turkish nation but rather “expressing the voice of the Greek Cypriots”.

Those who did this should definitely pay the price and be brought to justice,” Akdag said.

This immorality and indecency, he said, was targeted not only against President Erdogan but also against the entire Turkish nation.

Meanwhile, Turkish nationals in the TRNC and politicians has reacted to the sketch including a protest outside the news papers' office on  Monday.