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Turkish stand-up comedian faces investigation over viral performance

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ISTANBUL (Medysacope) – On Monday (June 29), an investigation was launched by Istanbul’s Chief Prosecutor into a recent performance by Deniz Göktaş at Istanbul’s open-air Harbiye venue. Last week, Göktaş released a full 1.5 hour video recording of the performance on his YouTube channel. 

By Leo Kendrick • Medyascope

The video of Göktaş’s performance, containing references to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Quran, and imprisoned Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, quickly went viral online. The video has generated nearly seven million views on YouTube, with shorter clips spreading across X, Instagram and other platforms.

Estimates indicate that a significant portion of Turkey’s population of 86 million have viewed clips from the performance. Göktaş, one of the most prominent stand-up comedians of Turkey’s younger generation, has toured Europe and North America and recently finished production work on several recorded live performances.

Göktaş’s prominence in Turkey has increased significantly of late. Shortly after the release of the full YouTube recording, the comedian sat down for an interview with Fatih Altaylı, an independent Turkish journalist whose YouTube channel receives millions of views.

Several members of Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP), including former Ankara Mayor Melih Gökçek, lashed out at Göktaş on social media, scolding the comedian for having allegedly made fun of Erdoğan and the Quran.

Istanbul Chief Prosecutor alleges ‘insulting religious values’

The investigation launched Monday by Istanbul’s Chief Prosecutor alleges Göktaş ‘insulted religious values’ in a portion of his performance in which he referenced the Quran. Additionally, access to clips of Göktaş’s performance on X, formerly known as Twitter, were blocked by Turkish authorities under the justification of ‘maintaining public order’.

Göktaş’ viral stand-up performance also referenced former Istanbul Chief Prosecutor Akın Gürlek, who was recently promoted to Minister of Justice. During his time in Istanbul, Gürlek launched dozens of investigations into opposition officials, including now-imprisoned Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.

Göktaş denies escape rumors

Following rumors he had left Turkey in order to evade charges related to the performance, Göktaş posted on social media early Monday, saying he had gone abroad for vacation but intended to return to Turkey in the near future:

“I’ve gone on vacation with three boxers and three t-shirts…Many have speculated as to my whereabouts as if it’s some sort of intelligence tip…I intend to spend many more years in Turkey and if there is a situation demanding my presence, I will return on the next flight back. In any case, the number of t-shirts I’ve brought with me will require my timely return.”

Selahattin Demirtaş weighs in

Selahattin Demirtaş, former co-leader of the pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP) who has been imprisoned since 2016, released a statement regarding the Deniz Göktaş investigation jokingly saying “If he gets thrown in prison then I will definitely be released. Our prison system cannot handle two prisoners like the two of us at the same time.”

Ousted opposition leader responds

Özgür Özel, elected chairman of Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) who was ousted by a court order last month, responded to the Göktaş case during comments at the Turkish Parliament Tuesday:

“I promise to Deniz that we will together end this 30-year journey we have been on with Erdoğan,” referencing a section of Göktaş’s stand-up performance in which the comedian joked he had been born the same year Erdoğan became mayor of Istanbul in 1994.

Özel continued saying: “We are confronted with a regime that does not understand jokes and humor, and cannot tolerate freedom of expression.”

Turkish stand-up comedian faces investigation over viral performance | Written/translated by Leo Kendrick for Medyascope

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