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Stand-up comic held for jokes about Erdoğan and Islam in Turkey crackdown
BBC • • world
Key Points:
- Stand-up comedian Deniz Göktaş was arrested in Istanbul following a performance that criticized President Erdoğan and the Quran, with the court approving his pre-trial detention; the show has garnered 9.4 million views on YouTube.
- His arrest is part of a wider crackdown on dissent in Turkey, which has also targeted journalists, activists, and opposition figures ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara, where demonstrations have been banned until 10 July.
- The religious affairs directorate publicly condemned the performance in a mosque sermon, accusing digital platforms of mocking sacred values, while Göktaş denied any intent to offend and highlighted that his show had been performed for nearly three years without complaints.
- Human Rights Watch and critics view the detention as indicative of increasing restrictions on freedom of expression and political opposition in Turkey, noting recent actions against opposition leaders and media.
- Supporters gathered at the courthouse in Istanbul to protest Göktaş's detention, with tensions evident as opposition leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu arrived amid chants and accusations.
