A Turkish court in Istanbul orders stand-up comedian Deniz Goktas jailed pending trial after prosecutors bring charges linked to alleged insults to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and to religious values. Multiple outlets report that the case centers on remarks made during a comedy performance that circulated widely online.
According to the reports, the footage includes references to religious topics and the president, and it goes viral on social media platforms. One outlet says the clips have attracted millions of views on YouTube, while others describe broad sharing across X (Twitter), Instagram, and other networks.
The court’s decision keeps Goktas in custody while the trial process proceeds. Details of the specific statements, the exact legal charges, and the court’s reasoning are not provided in the excerpts, but all accounts agree that the detention is precautionary and tied to the allegations arising from the viral performance.
The reports also note that the comedian’s detention follows the emergence of the video online and subsequent attention from authorities.
