Turkey detains stand-up comedian for allegedly insulting religious values
The routine drew 185 complaints and 9.5 million YouTube views, and prosecutors said the jokes about religion and Erdogan crossed legal lines.
- On Friday, a Turkish court jailed comedian Deniz Goktas pending trial after he was arrested at Istanbul's airport Thursday on charges of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and religious values.
- Pro-Government newspaper Sabah reported that dozens of viewers filed complaints regarding Goktas's June performance in Istanbul, triggering the investigation into his routine that garnered 9.5 million views on YouTube.
- During questioning, Goktas denied degrading religious values, asserting his remarks were satirical political assessments. He described Erdogan as having evolved from a "shy dictator" to one "confident in his identity," according to Bianet.
- Hundreds gathered in solidarity outside the Istanbul courthouse on Friday, chanting anti-government slogans, according to Cumhuriyet. Insulting the president is a criminal offense in Turkey, punishable by up to four years in prison.
- This arrest occurs amid frequent investigations into government critics, including the ongoing corruption trial of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. Erdogan's government maintains that Turkish courts act independently of political pressure.
85 Articles
85 Articles
Five days away from the NATO summit in Ankara, the 32-year-old stand-up, who has a satirical look at the country's political evolution, was arrested on Thursday in Istanbul.
Turkish comedian Deniz Göktaş has been arrested after his stand-up comedy show mocked President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The comedian will remain in prison until his trial, the case has brought renewed attention to the state of freedom of expression in Turkey.
A Turkish comedian has now been arrested after he left out online about Erdogan and Islam. The video was watched about 9.5 million times. Against the Turkish stand-up comedian Deniz Göktaş has been ordered by an Istanbul court in custody for "President insults". In addition, he was accused of "incitement of hatred and hostility or degradation". The 32-year-old artist was arrested at the airport on Thursday on his return to Turkey, as his lawyer …
Comedian Deniz Göktaş has been arrested in increasingly authoritarian Turkey for allegedly mocking the president and the Quran.
Comedian Deniz Goktas: Between Laughter and Legal Trouble
Turkish comedian Deniz Goktas has been imprisoned pending trial for allegedly insulting President Erdogan and religious values. Goktas, who was detained upon returning to Turkey, denies the charges, asserting his remarks were political, not insulting. His routine went viral, drawing attention and criticism from Erdogan's supporters.
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