Join host Daryl Cagle for a compelling episode of Caglecast, exploring the high stakes of political cartooning with guests Zehra Ömeroğlu and Terry Anderson. Zehra, a Turkish cartoonist, recounts her grueling five-year trial in Turkey over a satirical cartoon in LeMan magazine, facing potential imprisonment despite a recent acquittal now under appeal. Terry Anderson, Executive Director of Cartoonists Rights Network International, sheds light on global threats to cartoonists, from the shutdown of LeMan to arrests in Iran and Egypt. This episode uncovers the courage and risks behind political satire in an era of censorship and authoritarianism.
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Guest Bios:
- Zehra Ömeroğlu: A celebrated Turkish cartoonist and recipient of the 2025 Robert Russell Courage in Cartooning Award. Zehra faced a five-year trial for a LeMan cartoon deemed obscene, pushing her into partial exile. She’s currently working on a 200-page graphic novel about her ordeal and contributes to Cagle.com.
- Terry Anderson: Executive Director of Cartoonists Rights Network International, tirelessly defending cartoonists facing censorship and persecution globally. Terry provides updates on critical cases, advocating for free expression in countries like Turkey, Iran, and Egypt.
Episode Highlights:
- Zehra’s legal battle in Turkey and the ongoing appeal threatening her freedom
- The closure of LeMan magazine and arrests of its editors over a controversial cartoon
- Global cartoonist struggles, including Atena Farghadani’s release in Iran and Ashraf Omar’s detention in Egypt
- The Charlie Hebdo cover mocking Erdogan and its diplomatic fallout
- The New York Times’ 2019 decision to stop publishing editorial cartoons
- The enduring power and peril of political cartoons in authoritarian regimes
