Turkish Comedian, Deniz Göktaş Goes On Trial For Insulting President Erdoğan In A Stand-Up Show
Comedian Deniz Göktaş (left) and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Popular Turkish comedian, imran Deniz Göktaş appeared in court on Monday, September 28, 2026, over allegations that he insulted his country’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and committed other offences during a stand-up performance. The 32-year-old comedian, known for his dry humour and political satire, used his appearance before the court to deliver a sharp and humorous defence that repeatedly drew laughter from those present. Göktaş arrested on July 3, shortly after a video from his “Dead Sea” stand-up show went viral on YouTube, attracting about nine million views. He is charged with insulting Erdoğan, inciting public hatred and praising crime and criminals. Turkish media estimates that a conviction could result in a prison sentence of up to about 10 years. Appearing at Istanbul’s Caglayan courthouse, Göktaş told the court that satire should be tolerated by political leaders and rejected th...