An Istanbul court has convicted comedian Deniz Göktaş of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, sentencing him to nearly 19 months in prison but ordering his release due to time served. Göktaş has spent approximately 90 days in prison and is now subject to a travel ban preventing him from leaving Turkey. A final decision on the case will be made by the court of appeals.
Göktaş denied the charges against him, which stemmed from a line in his stand-up routine where he referred to Erdoğan as 'a shy dictator.' He argued that the term 'dictator' is a political characterization rather than an insult. Prosecutors had sought a sentence of up to 12 years.
During his court appearance, Göktaş maintained his sense of humor, stating, 'Three months have been taken away from my life, but I quit smoking, so I'll add another three months to my life,' which elicited laughter from those present. Supporters, including fellow comedian Firat Aksal, expressed surprise and happiness at the verdict, noting their initial skepticism about receiving a fair trial.
Göktaş was released at 21:45 local time on September 28, 2026, and was greeted by family and supporters outside the prison. He expressed joy at being reunited with his family but highlighted the plight of others still imprisoned in Turkey for their views, including journalists and activists. He stated, 'I hope the day comes when we can all regain our freedom together.'
President Erdoğan and his party have previously denied that arrests, including that of Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, are politically motivated, asserting the independence of Turkey's judiciary.