Popular Turkish comedian Deniz Göktaş has gone on trial in Istanbul over allegations that he insulted President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and incited public hatred during a stand-up performance.
The 32-year-old comedian, known for political satire and dry humour, was arrested on July 3, about a week after a recording of his show was uploaded to YouTube and reportedly attracted nearly nine million views.
Göktaş has remained in pre-trial detention and is facing charges of insulting Erdoğan, incitement to public hatred, and allegedly praising crime and criminals, according to the indictment.
His trial began on Monday at Istanbul’s Çağlayan Courthouse, where about 50 supporters gathered outside despite heavy rain. They chanted, “Deniz Göktaş is not alone,” while several police officers monitored the protest.
Journalists, supporters, fellow comedians and observers from the Dutch embassy and US consulate were also present at the court.
Göktaş is being held at the high-security Karatepe Prison, about 120 kilometres west of Istanbul. Despite his detention, he has occasionally posted comments on X, often making humorous observations about prison life.
In a post ahead of his court appearance, he joked about being handcuffed for the first time and hearing a car horn after 88 days in detention.
Another charge was reportedly added in August over a joke concerning the Daltons, an organised crime group in Turkey.
Turkish media reports suggest that if convicted on all the charges, Göktaş could face a prison sentence of 10 years or more.
The comedian reportedly began his career at Istanbul’s TuzBiber comedy club in 2019 and has since performed in venues across Europe and the United States.
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