Deniz Goktas freed after Erdogan insult trial as satire crackdown grows

Turkish comedian Deniz Goktas has been released after a trial in Istanbul on charges of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and inciting hatred. He had spent 63 days in a high-security prison, held in isolation, before his first hearing.

Supporters outside the courthouse said the authorities were seeking 12 years in prison. The case centred on stage material in which Goktas called Erdogan a dictator. In court, he argued that this was not an insult but a political characterization. At times the courtroom laughed, and people spilled into the corridors.

Supporters gathered outside Istanbul's main courthouse. Police encircled the building where people were due to meet. The protest ended quickly and peacefully, but those present said anger was building. One supporter said the authorities were trying to increase the price of speaking out and break the courage of the people.

After only a few hours, the court released Goktas. He was found guilty of insulting Erdogan and inciting hatred. He was given a sentence of almost 19 months, but walked free that night because of time already served. He went straight to a comedy club, one of the first places he ever performed. Fellow comedians welcomed him, and he said he would be back on stage soon.

His case is part of a wider crackdown on free expression in Turkey. A campaign that began with political rivals has spread to musicians, influencers, LGBTQ+ Turks and comedians. Stand-up comedy is booming in Turkey, but the limits of free speech have become narrow.

Other comedians have faced similar pressure. Tüber Ulu, a stand-up, referenced a 16th-century sultan marrying his casual hook-up. She was given a five-month suspended prison sentence. Police came to her home and arrested her in her pajamas. Her lawyer argued that satire is free expression and that the trial was an attempt to set limits on what Turks are allowed to find funny.

Aysegul, who has done stand-up for six years, said comedians increasingly refuse to let their sets be filmed because they fear a clip going viral. She said she cannot say what she wants on stage and wishes for more freedom of speech. Many of her friends have quit stand-up, she said, because of concern, anxiety and panic attacks.

The scale of the issue is large. Justice Ministry figures from March show almost 59,000 people under investigation for insulting the president or the state. Turkey insists its courts are independent. But the president and his party appoint the body that hires and fires every judge.

After more than 20 years in power, Erdogan has tightened his control on many parts of life in Turkey. Comedians are discovering that even a punchline can be dangerous. Goktas's release was unexpected, and his supporters saw it as a sign that public pressure can force the government to step back. The broader crackdown, however, continues.