Turkish authorities detained comedian Deniz Goktas at Istanbul's airport on Thursday, days after prosecutors launched an investigation into accusations that his stand-up routine insulted religious values. Goktas was apprehended upon his return from a trip abroad, according to the state-run Anadolu agency.
The comedian's show, recorded in Istanbul last month and uploaded to YouTube, garnered millions of views in Turkey. Dozens of viewers filed complaints against Goktas, citing offense over jokes concerning religion, which initiated the investigation, the pro-government newspaper Sabah reported.
Sabah and other media outlets published a photograph of the 32-year-old comedian being escorted by a police officer at the airport. Earlier, authorities blocked access to excerpts of Goktas' performance, including jokes that targeted President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which had been uploaded to social media.
Critics of President Erdogan, who has consolidated power over two decades in office, assert that he has progressively curtailed freedom of expression. This has led to charges being filed against opponents, including politicians and journalists.
In recent times, these restrictions have extended to popular culture, with Goktas becoming the latest public figure to face investigation, detention, or prosecution for remarks considered offensive. For instance, staff members of the satirical magazine Leman are currently on trial for allegedly inciting hatred due to a cartoon depicting the Prophet Mohammed and Moses. Earlier this year, another comedian, Tuba Ulu, was briefly detained for allegedly insulting a revered historic figure over a joke about Ottoman Sultan Suleiman.