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🇦🇹 Austria /Crime & Justice

Turkey Arrests Comedian Over Erdogan Insult and Religious Jokes

From Die Presse · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency In the courts
  • Turkish comedian Deniz Göktaş was arrested for allegedly insulting President Erdogan and making religiously offensive remarks.
  • His arrest is based on two jokes from his stand-up routine, one using the word "dictator" and another referencing the Quran.
  • Göktaş denies any intent to offend, stating his remarks were political commentary and that his performances had not previously drawn complaints.

Turkish stand-up comedian Deniz Göktaş has been arrested on charges of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and inciting hatred related to religious jokes. His lawyer announced an appeal against the decision.

The arrest, which occurred at Istanbul Airport, stems from two specific jokes in Göktaş's stage performance, according to his lawyer, Metin Aslan. One joke reportedly used the word "dictator," which Göktaş claims was a political description, while the other touched upon the Islamic belief that the Quran is the final holy book revealed by God.

We will appeal.

— Metin AslanStating the intention to appeal the comedian's arrest.

Göktaş, 32, formally arrested on Friday after being charged by the prosecutor's office, has denied any intention to offend religious people. He stated that his performances over the past three years had not generated any complaints. His lawyer is preparing to file an appeal, and if that is rejected, the defense aims to expedite the prosecutor's indictment.

I did not intend to offend religious people.

— Deniz GöktaşDenying intent to cause offense with his jokes.

A roughly 90-minute performance by Göktaş, posted on YouTube on June 24, has garnered over 9.6 million views. The widespread attention highlights the ongoing international criticism of Turkey's laws against insulting the president, which are often perceived as tools to suppress dissent.

The case intertwines two sensitive areas of Turkish domestic politics: the protection of religious values and the prosecution of speech concerning the president. The Turkish Religious Affairs Directorate indirectly referenced the situation in a nationwide Friday sermon, warning against modern consumer culture, indiscriminate use of digital platforms, and the tendency to mock sacred subjects "under the guise of humor."

The term 'dictator' was a political description.

— Deniz GöktaşExplaining the context of his use of the word 'dictator'.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Presse in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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