Turkish Comedian On Trial For Insulting President Erdogan During Show

Popular Turkish comedian Deniz Göktaş has gone on trial in Istanbul over allegations that he insulted President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a stand-up performance.

The 32-year-old comedian appeared before an Istanbul court on Monday, September 28, facing three charges connected to comments made during his “Dead Sea” comedy show in June.

Prosecutors have accused Göktaş of insulting the president, inciting hatred and hostility among members of the public, and praising crime and criminals.

Göktaş was arrested on July 3, shortly after returning to Turkey from an overseas trip. He has remained in pre-trial detention since then.

The comedian’s performance was published on YouTube on June 24 and attracted millions of views. In the show, Göktaş used political satire to comment on Erdogan, religion and other issues in Turkish society.

Prosecutors allege that some of his remarks about Erdogan went beyond acceptable criticism and damaged the president’s honour and reputation.

The indictment also refers to jokes concerning religious practices and a separate section involving an alleged criminal organisation. Prosecutors argue that some of the remarks could constitute incitement against a section of the population and praise for criminal activity.

Göktaş has rejected the accusations, maintaining that his comments were part of his satirical performance and were not intended to insult anyone.

His arrest and prosecution have attracted support from fellow comedians, journalists and other observers. Supporters gathered outside the Çağlayan Courthouse in Istanbul as the hearing began, with protesters calling for his release.

If convicted on all three charges, Göktaş could face several years in prison. Turkish media calculations based on the charges put the potential sentence at up to nearly 10 years.

The court is expected to hear Göktaş’s defence and consider his continued detention during the proceedings.

The case has drawn attention to Turkey’s laws concerning insults against the president and the limits placed on political satire and criticism.