Turkish comedian detained after probe over viral stand-up
Turkish comedian Deniz Göktaş was detained at the airport on July 2 upon returning from a vacation abroad, as part of an investigation launched over his remarks in his latest stand-up special.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office opened an investigation into Göktaş on June 29 on charges of “publicly denigrating the religious values embraced by a segment of society.”
The probe centered on several jokes delivered during a stand-up performance in Istanbul. The show was uploaded to Göktaş’s YouTube channel on June 24 and amassed more than 8.5 million views within a week.
Throughout the performance, the comedian offers sharp satire spanning a wide range of topics, including Türkiye’s domestic politics, psychology, drug-related investigations, Ancient Greece, professional athletes and television commentators.
