Turkish Comedian Arrested Over Stand-Up Routine Under Insult Laws

Turkish comedian Deniz Göktaş was arrested at Istanbul Airport on Thursday following the release of a stand-up performance on YouTube.

Turkish comedian Deniz Göktaş faces multiple investigations following the release of a stand-up performance on YouTube. (Photo: @oguzcanpelit / Deniz Göktaş X)

The 32-year-old is facing multiple investigations, including allegations of "publicly insulting religious values" and insulting Turkish President **Recep Tayyip Erdoğan>, Sertac Aktan reported for Euronews.

One of the jokes cited from the performance referred to the Qur'an:

"I think it's the best of the four books; for one thing, it's a bold statement in the 600s. It's also very difficult for the author; if a new idea comes to mind, too bad, we've said, 'This is the last book...'"

It remains unclear which part of the 90-minute performance authorities believe constituted an insult to the president, an offense under Article 299 of the Turkish Penal Code. During the show, Göktaş also referred to Erdoğan as a "dictator" who was finally "at peace with his desires."

The performance was uploaded to YouTube on June 24 and has since received nearly 9 million views.

Throughout the show, Göktaş satirized political developments in Turkey and joked about figures across the political spectrum, including jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, whose arrest last year triggered mass protests.

According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), Göktaş' arrest comes amid a broader crackdown on critics of Turkey's government, with musicians, artists, journalists and politicians facing increasing legal scrutiny.