A well-known Turkish comedian, whose stand-up shows have garnered millions of views online, was arrested today (2/7) at Istanbul airport on charges of insulting Islam, according to prosecutors. The arrest of 32-year-old Deniz Goktas is said to be part of a broader crackdown targeting critical voices against the Islamist-conservative government and its policies. Judicial investigations are reportedly expanding to include musicians, artists, journalists, and opposition politicians.
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“Deniz Goktas was arrested at Istanbul airport on July 2,” the Istanbul prosecutor’s office stated in a press release, adding that it had received “185 complaints” regarding the comedian’s performances and had launched an investigation into the “public insulting of Turkey’s religious values.”
The stand-up show that led to his arrest — “Offensive language constituting a criminal offense”
A stand-up show recorded in Istanbul on June 1 was uploaded as a 90-minute video to YouTube on June 24 and has since amassed nearly nine million views. In the show, the comedian offers a satirical take on the country’s political developments, with references to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his main political rival, imprisoned Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, whose arrest in March 2025 triggered mass protests.
Prosecutors have launched an investigation, claiming the video contains “offensive language constituting a criminal offense.” Goktas — who had posted on X that he was abroad on vacation — was arrested upon disembarking from his flight earlier today.
The Ankara-born comedian began his stand-up career at an Istanbul club in 2019 and has since performed across Europe and the United States.
