Turkish comedian Deniz Göktaş on trial for alleged insults to President Erdoğan
Deniz Göktaş appeared before an Istanbul court after being arrested in early July following a widely viewed video of his June stand‑up routine. Prosecutors allege that he insulted President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, incited public hatred, and praised criminal activity in jokes about an organized‑crime group. Since his arrest, Göktaş has been held in pre‑trial detention at the high‑security Karatepe prison. Around 50 demonstrators gathered outside the Çağlayan courthouse in heavy rain, while fellow comedians and representatives from the Dutch embassy and the U.S. consulate observed the proceedings.
How this was covered
- Right-leaning outlets covered this 3h later
Why it matters
The case illustrates Turkey's ongoing use of speech‑related prosecutions against critics of the government.
How this story developed
- Sep 16 Turkish market pauses trading as BIST 100 slides amid fund payout woes
- Sep 21 Courts imposed travel bans and asset freezes on the suspects.
- Sep 25 The liquidation deadline for the 131 funds was extended to six months.
- Sep 28 Comedian Deniz Göktaş began a court hearing in Istanbul on charges of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and inciting hatred after a June stand-up routine.
- Sep 28 A count of praising crime was added to the indictment.
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