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Turkish authorities have intensified arrests ahead of the NATO Summit in Ankara. Among those arrested is comedian Deniz Goktaş, accused of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and inciting hatred...
Turkish authorities arrested two journalists and dozens of opposition activists on Sunday ahead of the NATO summit, which takes place in Ankara on July 7-8. According to reports, the actions are part of a wider security operation ahead of the military alliance meeting.
Among those arrested is 32-year-old comedian Deniz Göktaş, known for his political satire. He was arrested on Friday on charges of "inciting hatred and enmity" and insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan after he called the head of state a "dictator" in his latest show. The show, posted on YouTube, has garnered nearly 11 million views in ten days.
The NATO summit is expected to be attended by leaders of the alliance's 32 member countries, including US President Donald Trump. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has described the meeting as one of the most important in NATO's history.
Turkish authorities have reportedly arrested more than 200 people on terrorism charges in the past week, including dozens of retired environmental activists. Critics of the government argue that the measures are part of a broader crackdown on critical voices, while the government presents them as necessary security measures.
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, Erdoğan’s main political rival, remains in prison on corruption charges. The trial is expected to continue during the summit. Meanwhile, hundreds of other opposition mayors and officials are facing similar charges.
The case of Deniz Goktaş has attracted a lot of attention in Turkish public opinion. The comedian has become known for his satire of political figures, including opposition leader İmamoğlu. After his arrest, many supporters expressed solidarity on social media.
The Istanbul prosecutor's office said the arrest was made after 185 complaints from citizens regarding the performance recorded on June 30 at an open-air theater. Insulting the president is a criminal offense in Turkey and is punishable by up to four years in prison.
During questioning, Göktaş stated that he had no intention of insulting the president or religious beliefs and that his statements were part of artistic satire. Regarding the references to the Quran in the play, he said that he had only expressed a personal assessment and had not intended to offend believers.
Turkey's Directorate of Religious Affairs also referred to the performance in a Friday sermon, without mentioning the comedian's name, warning that using digital platforms to mock religious values "under the guise of humor" negatively affects young people.
Opposition MP Namık Tan compared the arrest to practices during the reign of Sultan Abdul Hamid II, recalling the banning of the play "Cyrano de Bergerac" in the Ottoman Empire due to the sultan's concerns over the portrayal of the main character.
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