Turkish comedian arrested at Istanbul airport for 'denigrating' Quran and describing Erdogan

Turkish comedian Deniz Goktaş, known for his viral YouTube content, was arrested at Istanbul Airport on Thursday as he returned from abroad. The 32-year-old comedian faces charges of "denigrating religious values" following an investigation by the Turkish prosecutor's office.

The investigation was prompted by conservative groups close to the government who denounced portions of a stand-up comedy show. This performance, posted on YouTube, rapidly gained traction, exceeding 8.5 million views within just one week and becoming a viral phenomenon.

A statement from the prosecutor's office, as reported by Cumhuriyet newspaper, confirmed Goktaş's arrest at the airport. The probe specifically targets "denigration of religious values held by a segment of the population." Critics found several of Goktaş's humorous comments about the Quran to be offensive to Islam. He had referred to the four holy texts, the Torah, Psalms, Gospels, and Quran, as if they were part of a literary series.

The comedian's show also included satirical commentary on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his long tenure in power. Goktaş described the president as a politician who evolved "from a timid dictator to a dictator at peace with his identity." In another segment, he ironically suggested he would like to be the president's therapist, though he acknowledged such a position would likely go to an Erdogan family member.

Goktaş's humor was not limited to the government; he also satirized the imprisoned Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a prominent opposition figure to Erdogan.

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from a timid dictator to a dictator at peace with his identity