Turkish comedian Deniz Göktaş has gone on trial over allegations that he insulted President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and committed other offences during a stand-up comedy performance.
The 32-year-old comedian appeared before a court in Istanbul on Monday after spending 88 days in custody. He faces charges including insulting the president, inciting the public to hatred or hostility, and praising crime and criminals. Turkish media reports indicate that he could face several years in prison if convicted.
Göktaş was arrested in July after a recording of his stand-up show, titled Dead Sea, attracted millions of views online. The performance featured political satire and commentary on developments in Turkey, including references to Erdoğan and other prominent political figures.
The comedian denied the allegations during Monday’s hearing and defended the use of satire as part of artistic expression. He argued that Turkish comedians and satirists had historically been able to criticise political leaders through humour without facing criminal prosecution.
Göktaş told the court that the laws protecting freedom of expression had not changed, but argued that the treatment of comedians had changed. He maintained that there was no criminal intent behind his jokes.
He also rejected the suggestion that his performance constituted praise of crime or criminals, saying his material was intended as satire rather than an attempt to encourage criminal activity.
The comedian used humour during his defence, prompting laughter from people inside the courtroom. At one point, he told the court that he had no intention of fleeing the country because he had voluntarily returned to Turkey from abroad despite knowing that he could face arrest.
“I came back to Turkey from abroad in the first place,” he said, according to reports, adding that three months had been taken from his life.
He also joked about having stopped smoking and said that would add three months to the end of his life, drawing laughter and applause as he left the witness stand.
The case followed the publication of Göktaş’s Dead Sea performance on YouTube. The recording reportedly attracted close to nine million views, bringing his political satire to a much wider audience.
Göktaş was arrested at Istanbul Airport in early July after returning from abroad. Earlier investigations had included allegations relating to statements about Erdoğan and religious values. A Turkish report said prosecutors subsequently brought additional allegations concerning the alleged glorification of crime and criminals.
According to Turkish media reports, the indictment accepted by the court includes charges of publicly inciting or humiliating a section of the population, insulting the president and praising crime and criminals. The reported potential sentence ranges from more than two years to more than 12 years, depending on the charges and the court’s findings.
Göktaş’s prosecution has attracted attention from comedians, rights observers and members of the public. Around 50 protesters reportedly gathered outside the Çağlayan courthouse during Monday’s hearing, while several comedians from Istanbul’s TuzBiber comedy club, where Göktaş began his career, attended the proceedings. Representatives from the Dutch and United States embassies were also reportedly present.
The case comes amid wider concerns raised by rights groups and observers about the treatment of journalists, artists, politicians and other public figures who criticise Turkey’s government. The Turkish authorities have maintained that prosecutions are based on violations of the country’s laws.
Göktaş has asked the court to acquit him and release him, while the proceedings will determine whether the statements made during his performance meet the legal threshold for the offences with which he has been charged.
The trial has consequently become a closely watched case involving the intersection of political satire, artistic expression and Turkey’s criminal laws concerning presidential insults and public speech.
