Comedian Göktaş faces prison sentence over viral stand-up
Prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of up to nine years and eight months for Turkish comedian Deniz Göktaş over remarks made during a stand-up performance that went viral, according to an indictment completed on Sept. 4.
Göktaş was jailed pending trial on July 3 in connection with an investigation stemming from a stand-up performance he gave in Istanbul on June 1.
A 90-minute recording of the show, titled “Ölü Deniz,” was uploaded to YouTube on June 24 and has garnered millions of views. The show became one of the most discussed performances in Türkiye in recent months, drawing both criticism and support online. Beyond its popularity, the special sparked widespread public debate over satire, politics, freedom of expression and the growing influence of a newgeneration of Turkish stand-up comedians.
Although a court ordered Göktaş’s release on Aug. 28 in relation to the charges for which he had been detained, he was rearrested before leaving prison over a separate accusation of “praising crime and criminals.”
