Turkey prosecutors indict comic for Erdogan insult

Turkish prosecutors have formally accused popular comedian Deniz Goktas of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and committing other offenses during a stand-up performance in June. If proven, the charges could result in years of imprisonment. Goktas, a 32-year-old comedian recognized for his dry humor and political satire, was arrested in early July following the release of a viral YouTube video of his performance, which garnered nearly nine million views. Since his arrest, he has been in pre-trial detention.

Initially, Goktas was charged with insulting the president and inciting public hatred. However, the indictment filed on September 3 also added a new charge of praising crime and criminals. The 3 September indictment, seen by journalists, did not clearly specify the potential sentence, but Turkish media estimated that a conviction on all counts could result in up to a decade or more behind bars.

The indictment asserts that Goktas' statements during his show crossed the line of acceptable criticism, damaging Erdogan's honor, dignity, and reputation in society. Additionally, prosecutors allege that his jokes about fasting suicide bombers and women wearing modest swimwear incited division and polarized public opinion against a religious segment of the population. Furthermore, they claim that a joke about hiring a contract killer via Telegram praised a criminal gang, legitimizing criminal acts.

Goktas, who claimed he was on vacation abroad when the investigation began, returned to Turkey on July 2 and was arrested at the airport. Born in Ankara, the comedian launched his stand-up career at Istanbul's TuzBiber comedy club in 2019 and has since performed at venues in Europe and the United States.