Turkish cartoonists urge PM to donate caricature fine to Gaza aid

Erdogan filed a defamation suit claiming damages against cartoon magazine, Leman, which represented him gesturing with a finger using photomontage. The court ruled that Leman pay him 6,000 TL ($3,700) in damages.

In an open letter to the prime minister published in the latest issue on Wednesday, Leman wrote that such lawsuits are hurting Turkey's image abroad and are seen as a bid to suppress artists but on the other they honor those intellectuals.

"As a result, we propose you donate the money awarded to you to the Palestinian children as a continuation of your stance in Davos. This will give us a relief," said Tuncay Akgun, co-owner of Leman, in the letter.

The numerous defamation cases filed against caricaturists by Erdogan have been cited in international reports as examples of breeches of human rights and freedom of speech in Turkey.

Since taking office, he has filed more than 50 cases against journalists and cartoonists accused of defaming him, media reports suggest.