Turkish Comedian Gets Jail Term for Calling Erdogan ‘Dictator’ but Released Ahead of Appeal – WTOP News
- On Monday, an Istanbul court convicted comedian Deniz Goktas of insulting President Tayyip Erdogan, sentencing him to 19 months in prison but ordering his immediate release after nearly three months in custody.
- Authorities arrested Goktas in early July following his viral "Dead Sea" performance, which attracted more than 500 complaints, including from state religious authority Diyanet, regarding jokes about Islam and Erdogan.
- During trial, Goktas defended his material, telling the court, "Dictator is not an insult: it is a political characterization," and argued Erdogan should remain "open to the art of satire."
- The judge sentenced Goktas to 11 months for "insulting the president" and seven months for "insulting religious values," downgrading initial accusations of inciting hatred and hostility regarding his routine.
- This case reflects Turkey's wider crackdown on speech-related offenses, as hundreds of artists, journalists, and activists have faced detention or trial, with the government increasingly using prosecutions to silence critics engaging in satire.
140 Articles
140 Articles
Perhaps what most disturbed the prosecutors was that the Turkish comedian called Erdoğan a dictator.
Applause and hugs greeted Turkish comedian Deniz Göktaş, 32, as he was released from Çorlu Prison after 88 days in pre-trial detention. An Istanbul court sentenced him to 11 months and 20 days for "insulting President" Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and to 7 months and 15 days for "public incitement to hatred and hostility." However, he was released while the sentence is pending. The case stemmed from jokes from his stand-up show "Ölü Deniz," which went v…
Tagesschau
cedarnews.netThe Turkish comedian Deniz Göktaş has been sentenced to about 18 months in prison - among other things for insulting the president. However, until the end of the appeal process, he comes on his own. By Benjamin Weber.[more]]>
A Turkish comedian has been convicted of "insulting the president" after jokes in a stand-up show.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 37% of the sources lean Left, 37% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
