Key facts
- A Turkish court ordered comedian Deniz Goktas jailed pending trial.
- Goktas faces charges of insulting religious values and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
- The charges stem from a stand-up routine that included references to Erdogan as a "dictator."
- The routine was widely viewed online after being uploaded to YouTube.
- Insulting the president is a criminal offense in Turkey, punishable by up to four years in prison.
A Turkish court on Friday ordered comedian Deniz Goktas to be jailed pending trial on charges of insulting religious values and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Goktas, 32, was detained Thursday at Istanbul's main airport upon his return from a trip abroad, days after prosecutors initiated an investigation into his stand-up routine. The routine, which included references to Erdogan as a "dictator," was recorded last month and garnered approximately 9.5 million views after being uploaded to YouTube on June 24. Pro-government newspaper Sabah reported that dozens of viewers filed complaints about jokes on religion, prompting the investigation. During questioning, Goktas stated he had no intention of degrading religious values or insulting the president, asserting his approach was satirical. He noted that a remark describing Erdogan as having evolved from a "shy dictator" to one "confident in his identity" reflected a widely debated topic in Turkey, according to excerpts of his testimony published by Bianet. Insulting the president is a criminal offense in Turkey, punishable by up to four years in prison. Critics argue that Erdogan has consolidated power over two decades in office and has narrowed the space for free expression, leading to frequent investigations, detentions, or prosecutions of journalists and government critics. Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a political rival of Erdogan, is currently imprisoned and on trial for corruption charges. Hundreds of mayors and officials from the main opposition party also face prosecution. The government maintains that Turkish courts are impartial and independent. Dozens of people gathered at the courthouse on Friday in solidarity with Goktas, chanting anti-government slogans, according to Cumhuriyet.