Turkish comedian Deniz Göktaş was arrested at Istanbul Airport on Thursday after returning to the country, following the publication of a stand-up performance that has triggered multiple criminal investigations.
The 32-year-old comedian is under investigation for allegedly “publicly insulting religious values” and for remarks deemed insulting to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
One of the jokes at the centre of the controversy concerned the Qur'an, with Göktaş delivering a satirical routine about religion during a 90-minute show that was uploaded to YouTube on June 24 and has since attracted almost nine million views.
The performance also featured commentary on political developments in Turkey and jokes directed at figures across the political spectrum, including Erdoğan and jailed Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, whose arrest last year sparked mass protests.
Although it remains unclear which specific part of the performance prompted the investigation concerning Erdoğan, Turkish media noted that Göktaş referred to the president as a “dictator” during the routine.
Investigation follows public complaints
According to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, authorities received 185 complaints regarding the performance.
A statement from prosecutors said Göktaş was detained at Istanbul Airport on July 2 and is being investigated for “publicly insulting religious values.”
Before his arrest, several clips from the show circulating on the social media platform X were blocked in Turkey on grounds of “national security and public order.”
Prosecutors subsequently launched a formal investigation, arguing that the performance contained statements amounting to criminal offences.
Wider crackdown
The arrest comes amid an expanding crackdown by Turkish authorities on individuals perceived as critical of the country's Islamo-conservative government and its values.
In recent months, legal investigations have reportedly targeted musicians, artists, journalists and political figures, among others.
Göktaş had publicly stated on X that he was abroad on holiday when the investigation became public. He nevertheless chose to return to Turkey on Thursday, aware that he would likely be detained upon arrival.
He is expected to appear before a court on Friday morning, according to his lawyer.
Born in Ankara, Göktaş began his stand-up career at Istanbul's TuzBiber comedy club in 2019 and has since performed across Europe and the United States.
Source: euronews
