Turkish Comedian Sentenced to 19 Months for Insulting Erdoğan
The judge ordered his release pending appeal after convicting him on insult and religious-values charges, with supporters and foreign observers in court.
- On Monday, an Istanbul court convicted comedian Deniz Goktas of insulting President Tayyip Erdogan, sentencing him to 19 months in prison but ordering his immediate release after nearly three months in custody.
- Authorities arrested Goktas in early July following his viral "Dead Sea" performance, which attracted more than 500 complaints, including from state religious authority Diyanet, regarding jokes about Islam and Erdogan.
- During trial, Goktas defended his material, telling the court, "Dictator is not an insult: it is a political characterization," and argued Erdogan should remain "open to the art of satire."
- The judge sentenced Goktas to 11 months for "insulting the president" and seven months for "insulting religious values," downgrading initial accusations of inciting hatred and hostility regarding his routine.
- This case reflects Turkey's wider crackdown on speech-related offenses, as hundreds of artists, journalists, and activists have faced detention or trial, with the government increasingly using prosecutions to silence critics engaging in satire.
164 Articles
164 Articles
Comedian Gets Jail Time for Calling Leader 'Dictator'
A Turkish court on Monday sentenced a median to more than 19 months before bars on charges of insulting religious values and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He was released hanging appeal. Deniz Goktas, 32, had been helped in prison since July 3 after clips of his routine, which included a...
Turkish Comedian Deniz Goktas Faces Years In Prison Over Erdogan "Shy Dictator" Jokes
A Turkish stand-up comedian has gone on trial in Istanbul, charged with insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a live comedy performance in June. Deniz Goktas, 32, was arrested on July 3, days after a YouTube recording of his “Dead Sea” show accumulated nearly 9 million views. Shorter clips posted on X gained similar rapid […]
Associated Press News
Turkish comedian gets jail term for calling Erdogan 'dictator' but released ahead of appeal
A Turkish court has sentenced a comedian to more than 19 months imprisonment on charges of insulting religious values and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The popular Turkish comedian Deniz Göktaş has been sentenced to 19 months in prison, among other things for insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during...
The artist, arrested in early July, was sentenced on Monday for insulting President Erdogan and religion during a satirical show. After 88 days of detention, he was released pending the decision on appeal.
The comedian Deniz Göktas has been sentenced in Turkey, among other things, for insulting the president. Nevertheless, he is allowed to leave the prison for the time being.
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