Turkish comedian Deniz Göktaş detained ahead of NATO summit
Deniz Göktaş, a Turkish stand‑up comedian, was detained at Istanbul Airport after returning to Turkey. He faced accusations of calling President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a “dictator” amid a broader crackdown on opposition figures, journalists, artists and critics as the country prepared to host a NATO summit. According to bianet.org, Göktaş was also accused of publicly insulting religious values, and
Deniz Göktaş, a Turkish stand‑up comedian, was detained by authorities at Istanbul Airport when he returned to Turkey. He was accused of calling President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a “dictator”. The detention occurred as Turkey intensified prosecutions against opposition figures, journalists, artists and critics ahead of a major NATO summit.
Bianet.org reported that Göktaş was additionally accused of publicly insulting religious values, and the BBC said he was accused of inciting hatred and hostility on stage. The comedian performed a show titled “Ölü Deniz” at Istanbul’s Harbiye Open Air Theater on June 1, and the video of the performance was published on YouTube on June 25.
The video attracted substantial online attention. Hindustan Times noted that it had over 9.6 million views, while bianet.org recorded 8.7 million views within one week. DW reported that the video included references to President Erdogan and religion.
Bluesky reported that Göktaş had predicted his own arrest 32 days before it happened. The New York Times confirmed that Turkey is hosting a NATO summit.
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