Comedian Deniz Göktaş on Trial for 'Insulting' Erdoğan and Inciting Hatred
Prominent comedian Deniz Göktaş has gone on trial in Istanbul, accused of insulting President Erdoğan, inciting hatred and hostility, and praising crime and criminals due to jokes made during a stand-
Comedian Deniz Göktaş began his trial in Istanbul, facing charges related to jokes made during a stand-up performance video released in June. Göktaş is accused of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, inciting hatred and hostility through jokes about Islam, and praising crime and criminals with a joke about an organized crime family.
Göktaş, who was arrested in July and held in pretrial detention for 88 days, saw his show's YouTube video garner over 9 million views. Outside the courtroom, approximately 50 supporters gathered in the rain to show solidarity with the comedian.
Highlights
- Deniz Göktaş is on trial for a stand-up performance from June.
- Charges include insulting Erdoğan, inciting public hatred, and praising crime and criminals.
- Göktaş was arrested in July and spent 88 days in pretrial detention.
- His YouTube video of the show accumulated over 9 million views.
- Observers from the Dutch Embassy and the US Consulate attended the trial.
Details
The charges against Deniz Göktaş stem from specific jokes in his show, "Dead Sea." The indictment cites Göktaş's descriptions of Erdoğan as a "shy dictator" and his reference to Erdoğan undergoing "a transition to a dictator who is at peace with his own identity" as insults. Furthermore, his jokes about Islam are alleged to have the potential to "publicly incite hatred and hostility."
The charge of praising crime and criminals was later added to the indictment, linked to a joke about the Daltons, an organized crime family. Due to the Turkish legal system allowing consecutive sentences for multiple convictions, Göktaş could theoretically face several years in prison.
According to the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), more than 500 complaints regarding the show were submitted to the Presidential Communication Center. Among the institutions that filed complaints was the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet).
Why it matters
This trial reignites debates surrounding freedom of expression in Turkey, reflecting ongoing tensions regarding the limits of criticism and humor directed at political figures. Turkey, a NATO member and EU aspirant, has long faced international criticism for its application of free speech standards. Such cases have the potential to exert a chilling effect on artists and critical voices within the country.