Fighting for freedom at the risk of his life

Politics Service

In this country, the regime is targeting anyone who criticises those in power. From journalists to students, and from trade unionists to workers, broad segments of society are being silenced through judicial and law enforcement pressure.

Most recently, comedian Deniz Göktaş, who was targeted for his political comedy show ‘Dead Deniz’—watched by millions—was taken into custody at Istanbul Airport whilst returning to Türkiye from abroad, where he had been on holiday. Attention was drawn to the fact that, following a medical check-up, Göktaş was taken to Vatan Police Station with his hands cuffed behind his back.

DIRECTLY TARGETED

His political stand-up show “Dead Deniz”, performed in Harbiye, was released on YouTube on 24 June and quickly reached more than 7 million views, winning the approval of a wide audience. In the show, Göktaş criticised political developments in Türkiye, AKP President Tayyip Erdoğan and numerous other political figures in a humorous tone, and was subsequently targeted by social media accounts close to the government and pro-government media outlets.

He was also targeted by AKP MPs in the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye during a debate on “respect for sacred values”. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation into Göktaş on the grounds of “publicly denigrating religious values embraced by a section of the public”.

A charge of “insulting the President” was subsequently added to Göktaş’s case file.

Deniz Göktaş, aged 32, against whom allegations had been made that he had “fled abroad”, had denied these claims in a statement posted on his social media account. In her post, Göktaş stated that he had gone on holiday to join his friends after completing his tour and the production work for his show, using the following words:

“Hello everyone, just as I’d been dreaming of all year, as soon as my tour and production work were finished, I came on holiday to join my friends with just three T-shirts and three pairs of underwear. I don’t know if travelling is something to be ashamed of, but those sharing this as if it were an intelligence report will also see that I paid a hefty military service fee on 22 June – I’ll be in the country for many years to come :) If a situation arises that makes it necessary for me to be in Türkiye, I’ll return on the first flight – the number of T-shirts is making it a bit of a struggle.” He returned of his own accord, but the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said he had been “captured. Göktaş returned to Türkiye today.

However, he was taken into custody during passport control at Istanbul Airport.

In a statement issued by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, the use of the term “captured” was notable, despite Göktaş having returned to the country of his own accord.

The Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office statement included the following:

“The 185 complaints filed with the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office regarding Imran Deniz Göktaş were assessed collectively as they related to the same matter, and an investigation was launched against him on the grounds of the offence of ‘publicly insulting religious values embraced by a section of the public’. Deniz Göktaş was apprehended at Istanbul Airport on 02/07/2026. Procedures are currently underway for the suspect to be taken into custody by teams from the Istanbul Security Branch Directorate, the law enforcement unit conducting the investigation. The investigation is being conducted with the utmost diligence by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.”

MILLIONS HAVE COME FORTH IN HIS DEFENCE

His arrest drew reactions from a wide range of people and organisations, from politicians to artists, and from journalists to his colleagues. Despite being targeted by all branches of the government, Göktaş was supported by broad sections of the public. Whilst numerous messages of support poured in for Göktaş via his social media accounts, clips from the performance posted on YouTube were also shared repeatedly. In a statement issued by the Actors’ Union, it was stated: “We wish to remind everyone that freedom of artistic expression and freedom of thought must be protected; we expect the process to be conducted in accordance with the universal principles of law. We wish to share with the public that we stand in solidarity with our colleague Deniz Göktaş.”

Actor Şevket Çoruh reacted with a touch of humour in his post: “You made us laugh; may God make you laugh too… The state, however, has said, ‘It’s our turn to laugh,’ and taken the comedian into custody. Laughing is allowed, making others laugh is suspect; making a joke is a misdemeanour, taking a joke seriously is a matter of state gravity. This country even takes minutes of laughter.”

A GLIMPSE INTO THE REGIME’S FEAR

The Turkish rock band Moğollar, meanwhile, issued the following statement: “To the public’s attention! As the world’s longest-running active music group, our lawyers have initiated the necessary legal proceedings against this act of disrespect. Just kidding. We loved your latest show; we’re so glad you’re here, Deniz Göktaş. They can’t take away our joy, can they?” The Istanbul Medical Association stated: “We were dismayed to learn that our friend Deniz Göktaş, who organised a concert for doctors last year as part of the week marking Doctors’ Day on 14 March and donated all proceeds to the Istanbul Medical Association’s scholarship fund, has been taken into custody. Freedom of expression and a sense of security are indispensable to a healthy society.”

The SOL (Left) Party stated, “Deniz Göktaş is not alone! The attempt to silence freedom of expression through the judiciary is a sign of the regime’s fear – a regime doomed to collapse – and is in vain.”

‘THIS GOVERNMENT ONLY LOVED GÜLEN’

Murat Emir, Deputy Group Chair of the CHP, made the following assessment:

“They have no tolerance for anyone who makes them laugh or brings a smile. Deniz Göktaş is in custody simply for reminding us of the smile we’ve been missing. Are we surprised? For years, this government has loved only one ‘Gülen’; they have no tolerance for anyone else who laughs or makes others laugh.”

The official statement from the DEM Party also included the following remarks: “Repression of freedom of thought and expression is unacceptable; political satire cannot be put on trial. An atmosphere of oppression, fuelled by a culture of lynch mobs and enforced through a judiciary that has been instrumentalised, benefits no citizen whatsoever. Deniz Göktaş must be released immediately.”

TİP spokesperson Sera Kadıgil also used the following words in a post on her social media account: “Either you will sit in silence and wait for your turn to come—even if you do nothing—or, just as Deniz has done, you will stand up against this appalling regime, which has sworn to silence anyone who does not align with the Palace, and speak out. Do not remain silent.”

DETENTION IS CONFIRMATION OF CRITICISM OF THE DICTATORSHIP

EMEP MP Sevda Karaca said: “You can’t call a dictator a dictator, is that it? Göktaş’s detention is confirmation of the criticism of the dictatorship expressed at the show. Deniz Göktaş is not alone.”

Note: This article is translated from the original article titled Özgürlük için kelle koltukta, published in BirGün newspaper on July 3, 2026.