Stand-up comic held for jokes about Erdogan and Islam in Turkey crackdown

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. Stand-up comic held for jokes about Erdogan and Islam in Turkey crackdownImage source, Instagram/@denizgoktasxImage caption, Deniz Göktaş is seen as one of Turkey's most popular stand-up comicsByPaul Kirby, Europe digital editor, Merve Kara-Kaska, Turkish and Zeynep Erdim, in IstanbulPublished3 July 2026, 12:30 BSTUpdated 1 hour agoStand-up comedian Deniz Göktaş has been placed under arrest by a court in Istanbul after he was held at the city's main airport over a performance that has attracted 9. Göktaş is accused of "inciting hatred and hostility" in his stage routine, as well as insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. He is the latest performer to be hit by a crackdown on dissent in Turkey that has also targeted campaigners, journalists and other public figures.

In recent weeks, access to the social media accounts of numerous LGBT+ organisations and activists has been blocked, while more than 200 people have been detained ahead of next week's Nato leaders' summit in the capital Ankara. Tens of thousands of security personnel are being deployed for the 7-8 July summit hosted by Erdogan where US President Donald Trump will meet his European counterparts and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky. Last month journalists, lawyers, academics, trade unionists, environmental activists and LGBT campaigners were detained.

The Details

Authorities have imposed a ban on demonstrations in Ankara until 10 July and independent Turkish media outlets have complained of being denied accreditation to the summit. Nato said it relied on the host nation, external to ensure access but was in contact with Turkish authorities. Among those detained late in June were volunteers from one of Turkey's best-known environmental organisations, the Tema Foundation.

Tema said many of those detained were retired people returning from a nature trip, and most were later released. Deniz Göktaş was arrested as he returned to Istanbul from a holiday, and images of the performer being led away with his hands handcuffed behind his back drew immediate criticism from supporters. Image source, Aynur Tekin/BBCImage caption, Supporters of Deniz Göktaş gathered outside the courthouse in Istanbul to protest his detentionAfter the comedian was questioned by prosecutors at the Çağlayan courthouse in Istanbul on Friday, the court agreed to a request for his pre-trial detention over part of the performance that covered Erdoğan and the Quran.

Istanbul's chief public prosecutor's office said authorities had received 185 complaints about Göktaş's video. Turkey's religious affairs directorate mentioned the stand-up show, without naming Göktaş, in its weekly sermon on Friday which is read out in all the country's mosques. The top mufti's office complained that the use of digital platforms "and occasional mockery of our sacred values ​​under the guise of humor are distancing our children from our values ​​day by day".

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.