In Istanbul a court found comedian Deniz Göktaş guilty of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan after he mocked the leader as a “shy dictator.”
The judge awarded a sentence of 1 year and 8 months, but released the 36‑year‑old because his time served already exceeded the court’s order. He will, however, be subject to a travel ban that bars him from leaving Turkey.
Göktaş has spent 88 days in a solitary cell and has appealed to the court of appeals. He insists his comments were merely political commentary and denies criminal intent.
The comedian’s routine, which has earned more than 15 million views on YouTube, singled out a line in which he described the president as a "shy dictator." Authorities fear that the joke carries an insult, seeing it as a challenge to state authority.
In his court appearance the comic did not lose his sense of humor. He told the panel that he has quit smoking during his time in confinement and that he is looking forward to adding more laughter to his life post‑release.
Supporters, including fellow comedian Firat Aksal, met outside the courthouse with signs reading "Deniz Göktaş is not alone." They celebrated the verdict despite uncertainty over many pending cases against journalists, activists and the mayor of Istanbul.
The case highlights a broader crackdown on dissent in Turkey that has seen journalists, human‑rights campaigners, student protestors, LGBTQ activists and other public figures detained, raising alarm among civil‑society groups worldwide.
