Deniz Geiktash, a 32-year-old Turkish comedian, appeared in court in Istanbul for the first time after being detained since July on charges of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and inciting hatred through his stand-up show content. If convicted on all charges, he could face between 2 and 12 years in prison.
Deniz Geiktash, a 32-year-old Turkish comedian known for satirical jokes and political criticism, appeared in an Istanbul court today (28 Sep) in a case accusing him of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and other offenses related to his June stand-up performance.
Geiktash was arrested by police on 3 July after posting a video of his performance on YouTube about a week earlier. The video has nearly 9 million views. He has been detained during the trial process and charged with insulting the president, inciting public hatred or hostility, and later added charges of glorifying crime and criminals.
According to the indictment, Geiktash faces three charges and could receive a prison sentence ranging from 2 years 2 months to 12 years 2 months if found guilty on all counts.
The initial hearing was scheduled at the 14th Criminal Court of First Instance but was moved to the 4th High Criminal Court. The trial, set to start at 10:00 a.m. local time, had not begun initially, and Geiktash was not brought to court yet.
Outside the courthouse in the Şaklian district of Istanbul, about 50 supporters gathered amid heavy rain, holding umbrellas and chanting "Deniz Geiktash is not alone," while dozens of police officers maintained security both outside and inside the court.
Among those supporting Geiktash were several comedians from Istanbul's TuzBiber comedy club, where he reportedly began his career in 2019. Observers from the Dutch embassy and the U.S. consulate were also present to monitor the trial.
Geiktash has been detained at the high-security Karatepe prison, about 120 kilometers west of Istanbul. While in custody, he has occasionally posted satirical messages about prison life on the platform X.
Before the hearing, Geiktash posted that after 88 days in detention, he would experience handcuffs for the first time and hear car horns, joking that he had never missed handcuffs and was unsure if he missed the car horn sounds. He also commented on his health as "good," teasing that he had learned people can live without sunlight, calling the sun "an overrated balloon."
Previously, Geiktash was investigated for insulting religious values before additional charges of insulting the president were added. Prosecutors filed the indictment on 4 September, 63 days after his detention began.
Prosecutors have requested the court to sentence Geiktash for insulting President Erdoğan, inciting hatred or hostility among the public, defaming specific groups, and glorifying crime and criminals. The combined sentence sought ranges from 2 years 2 months to 12 years 2 months.
The case occurs amid a crackdown on those the Turkish government views as critics of the administration and national values, with hundreds of politicians, artists, musicians, journalists, and LGBTQ+ activists prosecuted or detained in recent years. The Turkish government denies allegations that these actions aim to silence political dissent.
Geiktash was born in Ankara and began his comedy career at Istanbul's TuzBiber club before expanding performances across Europe and the United States. He is known for using satirical humor addressing political and social issues.