Comedian Deniz Göktaş indicted over viral stand-up show

An indictment has been prepared against comedian Deniz Göktaş following his viral stand-up performance, ‘Ölü Deniz’ (Dead Sea). Prosecutors are seeking prison sentences ranging from approximately 2 years and 2 months to 11 years and 2 months. The charges include insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, inciting hatred or hostility among segments of society, and praising crime and criminals.

Göktaş was detained at Istanbul Airport in July after returning from abroad. While he was briefly released on August 28, he was immediately re-arrested on charges of praising a criminal group known as the ‘Daltonlar’ based on remarks made during his show. The indictment, which has been submitted to the Istanbul 14th Criminal Court of First Instance, cites his comments regarding religious values and political figures as grounds for the incitement and insult charges.

Separately, TikTok influencers Sinan Kaya and Cansum Kaya have also been detained by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. They face investigation under Article 216 of the Turkish Penal Code for ‘inciting hatred or hostility or degrading the public’ due to content shared on the platform.