Cartoon crisis in Brussels

A gathering of Turkish and European parliamentarians in Brussels turned eventful on Tuesday when a far-right Dutch deputy lambasted Islam and Turkey and then attempted to present a caricature deemed criminal by Turkish prosecutors as a "gift" to a Turkish minister. Barry Madlener, a Dutch politician from the Party for Freedom (PVV), first caused tensions when he said at a meeting of the European Union-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee that Turkey did not belong to Europe because it has a "backward Islamic ideology" that does not fit with European values. "Islam and freedoms cannot coexist," Madlener said before accusing Turkey of restricting freedom of the press and Internet and criticizing increasing violence against women and homosexuals. He said even caricaturists were being put on trial and walked towards Turkish EU Minister Egemen Bagis, one of the panelists at the meeting, saying he wanted to present him an illustration by a Turkish cartoonist as a "gift." The cartoon, published in Turkish humor magazine "Penguen," reportedly landed cartoonist Bahadir Baruter in court, with a state prosecutor charging him in September with "insulting religious values" and demanding a one-year jail sentence. Bagis, who is also Turkey's chief negotiator for EU talks, then told Madlener: "I have enough cartoons at home. Put it in your appropriate place." EU Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan FUle attempted to calm down Bagis, who was visibly angry. Members of the European Union-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee protested Madlener by clapping, and Demirkiran accused Madlener of using the parliamentary platform for the purpose of provocation. "Discriminating against Islam as it was done today only aims for propaganda for national political purpose. I would like to remind Mr. Madlener of the current situation of the Arab Spring and the brave and pacific demonstrations of the people [in Arab countries] for dignity and human rights," Helene Flautre, co-chair of the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee, said after the eventful session.