04.09.2026 22:10
The indictment has been completed in the investigation against comedian Deniz Göktaş regarding his show titled 'Dead Sea'. The prosecutor's office requested that Göktaş be sentenced to up to 9 years and 8 months in prison for the crimes of 'insulting the President', 'publicly inciting hatred and hostility among the public', and 'praising a crime and the criminal'. In the indictment, in addition to his words directed at President Erdoğan, his remarks such as 'a suicide bomber who fasts', comparing women wearing burkinis to 'divers', and the expressions he used referencing the Dalton brothers were also included as accusations.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has completed its investigation into comedian Deniz Göktaş regarding the statements he made in his show titled "Dead Sea" published on his YouTube account.
3 CHARGES FILED
In the indictment prepared by the Press Crimes Investigation Bureau, it was requested that Göktaş be punished for the crimes of "insulting the President", "openly inciting the public to hatred and hostility through the press and broadcast media", and "praising crime and criminals". The indictment against Göktaş, who has been arrested, was sent to the Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance.
OVER 500 CIMER APPLICATIONS ADDED TO THE FILE
It was stated that the investigation was initiated after the show titled "Dead Sea", which Deniz Göktaş staged at the Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Open-Air Theatre and wrote the script for himself, was published on his YouTube account on June 24, 2026.
It was noted that more than 500 CIMER (Presidential Communication Center) applications regarding the show and complaints made in various provinces were consolidated into the main investigation file at the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.
Within the scope of the file, while the footage of the show was being analyzed, an expert examination was also conducted on Göktaş's mobile phone.
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE ALSO DISCUSSED LIMITS OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN THE INDICTMENT
The indictment extensively covered Constitutional Court decisions and judicial precedents regarding freedom of expression.
It was emphasized that freedom of expression protects not only ideas that are favorably received by society, but also views that are "offensive, shocking, or disturbing"; and that criticism may be exaggerated and provocative to a certain extent.
However, the prosecutor's office pointed out that expressions capable of inciting insult, hatred, discrimination, hostility, and violence may fall outside this protection.
STATEMENTS TARGETING PRESIDENT ERDOĞAN IN THE INDICTMENT
The first charge heading in the indictment concerned statements directed at President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The prosecutor's office assessed that some expressions Göktaş used about President Erdoğan in his show exceeded the limits of criticism and were of a nature that would offend the President's honor, dignity, and reputation in the eyes of the public.
It was stated that during the investigation, Göktaş admitted that he wrote the show's script himself and published the video on his own YouTube account.
It was noted that the necessary prosecution permit for this crime was also granted with the "Approval" letter from the General Directorate of Criminal Affairs of the Ministry of Justice dated August 13, 2026. The prosecutor's office concluded that this act constituted the crime of "publicly insulting the President" under Article 299 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK).
STATEMENTS ABOUT "FASTING SUICIDE BOMBERS" IN THE FILE
The second charge against Göktaş was shaped by the expressions he used regarding religious beliefs and practices in the show.
The indictment detailed Göktaş's statements in his show, where he used the analogy of comparing fasting individuals to "suicide bombers".
The prosecutor's office assessed that these expressions targeted a segment of society through individuals who perform fasting, which is one of the practices of the Islamic faith.
STATEMENTS REGARDING THE HOLY QUR'AN ALSO SUBJECT TO CHARGES
In the indictment, some statements Göktaş used in his show regarding holy books were also addressed in a separate section.
The prosecutor's office claimed that Göktaş's statements, in which he described the Holy Qur'an as the "fourth book" and used ironic expressions regarding its content, were capable of creating hatred and hostility among different segments of society with regard to their religious beliefs.
"DIVER" ANALOGY TARGETING BURKINI-WEARING WOMEN
Another noteworthy section in the indictment was the part of the show where Göktaş described women entering the sea in modest swimwear.
It was stated that Göktaş referred to these individuals as "divers" and used expressions deemed insulting during the show.
The prosecutor's office recorded in the indictment that Göktaş admitted in his statement that he meant women entering the sea wearing burkinis with the word "diver".
The prosecutor's office assessed that these statements targeted women who enter the sea in modest clothing due to their religious beliefs and constituted hate speech.
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE: HARMFUL TO SOCIAL PEACE
The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office concluded that, upon evaluating the statements in the show individually and as a whole, they were of a nature that "undermines social peace, is divisive, and polarizing".
In the indictment, particularly drawing attention to more than 500 CIMER applications and complaint petitions, it was argued that the expressions were capable of causing outrage among large segments of society and posed a clear and imminent danger to public safety.
Therefore, it was requested that Göktaş be punished for the crime of "openly inciting the public to hatred and hostility through the press and broadcast media" under Articles 216/1 and 218 of the TCK.
JOKE ABOUT CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION ALSO INCLUDED IN INDICTMENT
The third charge heading in the indictment concerned the section of the show about the criminal organization known publicly as the "Daltons".
It was noted that on stage, Göktaş used expressions involving payments via Telegram, the Daltons, and Bitcoin within a fictional narrative about hiring a hitman to kill a rival comedian.
The prosecutor's office claimed that the show presented the criminal organization's hitman activities as an easily accessible, systematic, and "institutional" service, and that this narrative praised and legitimized the actions of the criminal group.
It was stated that Göktaş was therefore assessed to have also committed the crime of "praising crime and criminals" under Article 215 of the TCK.
RELEASED, RE-ARRESTED
The indictment also covered the arrest process concerning Göktaş. Göktaş was detained on July 2, 2026. He was arrested on July 3 by the Istanbul 4th Criminal Court of Peace on charges of inciting the public to hatred and hostility and insulting the President.
Later, an arrest decision was also issued on August 28, 2026, regarding the charge of "praising crime and criminals". In the process within the file, following a release decision by the Criminal Court of First Instance, upon an objection filed, the Istanbul 28th Heavy Penal Court issued a new arrest decision on August 31, 2026, regarding the charges of insulting the President and inciting the public to hatred and hostility.
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE SOUGHT UP TO 9 YEARS 8 MONTHS IN PRISON
In the conclusion section of the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it requested a prison sentence of up to 9 years and 8 months for Deniz Göktaş.
It was requested that the mobile phone seized during the investigation be returned to Göktaş after the decision became final, and that the digital image obtained from the phone be preserved as evidence in the file.
Upon acceptance of the prepared indictment, the prosecution process against Deniz Göktaş will begin at the Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance.