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The internationally prominent caricature organizations have called for the release of caricaturist Musa Kart, who is Cumhuriyet Foundation Board Member.
In their joint statement, Cartoonists Rights Network International (CRNI), Cartoon Movement and Caricature for Peace initiative emphasized that Kart against whom President Erdoğan had filed defamation suits in 2005 and 2014 may face capital punishment this time instead of fine or jail term.
According to a report by Cumhuriyet daily, the statement saying “We are witnessing an effort by the president to exact revenge on someone he has long considered an enemy”, asked “On what basis can the drawing of satirical cartoons be considered a crime, much less an act of terrorism?”
The statement called upon all democratic government leaders to “redouble their efforts in dissuading the Turkish government from its present course and demand the immediate release of Musa Kart”.
CRNI Director: Some say the coup attempt made Erdoğan happy
Calling immediate release of all innocent and improperly held prisoners CRNI’s Executive Director, Dr Robert Russell, said:
“President Erdoğan has respondent to the recent so-called coup attempt by arresting hundreds of thousands of his fellow countrymen. People from all walks of life, high ranking governmental officials, the cream of the judiciary, intellectuals of all persuasions, journalists, simple common working people and anyone else he thought had negative opinions about him have been arrested.
“Some witnesses have said that the entire affair made him extremely happy, as now has an excuse to get rid of all of his enemies. There still may be as many as 100,000 people imprisoned.
“Cartoonists Rights Network International calls on the President to immediately release all innocent and improperly held prisoners, particularly journalists, and specifically our client Musa Kart”. (EKN/TK)
