Reporters Sans Frontiers criticized the ban saying while such actions are precedented in the former countries, this is the first time in Turkey where a publication is prohibited from distribution based on religious sensitivities.
Tunisian authorities blamed an alleged photograph of Prophet Mohammed published in the magazine as grounds for the ban. Visualization of Mohammed is strictly forbidden in Islamic tradition, they said in an announcement on January 10.
The bi-monthly magazine claimed to quote the graphics from a hand-written Quran dating back to 1583, which is situated in the Museum of Turkic and Islamic Arts in Istanbul.
The issue in question undertook fanatical Christian and Jewish political movements as well, said Pierre Baron of RSF and the reaction constituted evidence to the growing sentiments of cultural intolerance around the globe.(EÖ/EÜ)
