04.09.2026 17:20
An indictment was prepared against comedian Deniz Göktaş, who was investigated, detained, and arrested for remarks made during his stand-up show in Harbiye, seeking a prison sentence of up to 9 years and 8 months on three separate charges. The indictment, sent to the Istanbul 14th Court of First Instance, was accepted. Göktaş will appear before a judge for the first time on September 28.
The investigation into comedian Deniz Göktaş, who also broadcast his performance at the Harbiye Open Air Theatre on YouTube, has been completed. An indictment has been prepared seeking a total prison sentence of up to 9 years and 8 months on three separate charges against Deniz Göktaş, who was under investigation and arrested due to the statements he used in his show. The indictment, sent to the Istanbul 14th Criminal Court of First Instance, was accepted. Göktaş will appear before a judge for the first time on September 28 at 10:00 AM.
DETAILS OF THE INDICTMENT REVEALED
In the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was assessed that the suspect Imran Deniz Göktaş, through the words and expressions he used in the show titled "Dead Sea" published on YouTube on June 24, committed the crimes of "insulting the President", "publicly inciting hatred or hostility or degrading one segment of the public", and "praising crime and criminals".
In the prepared indictment, while it was requested that Göktaş be sentenced to a total of 2 years 2 months to 9 years 8 months in prison, it was noted that the suspect's statements regarding President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in his video on YouTube "exceed the limits of criticism and are at a level that would offend the honor, dignity, and reputation of the President in the eyes of society".
HERE ARE THE STATEMENTS DEEMED "INCITING THE PUBLIC TO HATRED AND HOSTILITY"
In the indictment, which included the suspect's statements from his show titled "Dead Sea": "I am still afraid. Suicide bombers, but most of all, I am afraid of fasting suicide bombers. Because you can escape from normal suicide bombers before they go to Taksim, squares, and crowded places, but it is uncertain where fasting suicide bombers will explode." it was stated that Göktaş made statements that "publicly incite a segment of the public with different religious characteristics against another segment to hatred and hostility".
In the indictment, it was stated that in another video, Göktaş made statements regarding the Quran, the holy book of the Islamic religion adopted by a large segment of the public, that publicly incite a segment of the public with different religious characteristics against another segment to hatred and hostility.
"HE MEANT HASHEMAH ENTERING WOMEN WITH THE WORD 'DIVER'"
In the indictment, which included Göktaş's statements about women who enter the sea with a hashemah (burkini) according to Islamic belief, it was stated that he made statements that publicly incite a segment of the public with different religious characteristics against another segment to hatred and hostility, and that in his statement, he confessed that with the word "diver" he meant women who enter the sea with a hashemah.
OVER 500 CIMER APPLICATIONS WERE MADE
In the indictment, which explained that these statements made by the suspect in his show were of a nature that damages social peace, is divisive and polarizing, targets women who enter the sea in modest clothing due to their religious beliefs and uses hate speech, and therefore over 500 CIMER (Presidency Communication Center) applications were made, it was stated that it was understood that Göktaş's statements were capable of causing outrage in large segments of society and posed a clear and imminent danger to public safety.
HIS STATEMENTS ABOUT THE DALTONS CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION WERE ALSO INCLUDED
In the indictment, Göktaş's statements in his show regarding the group known publicly as the "Daltons gang" were included.
The indictment, which stated that expressions praising and legitimizing the criminal actions of the criminal group were used, was sent to the Istanbul 14th Criminal Court of First Instance for evaluation.
WILL APPEAR BEFORE THE JUDGE
The prepared indictment was sent to the Istanbul 14th Criminal Court of First Instance. The court, completing its examination, accepted the indictment and set a date for the hearing. Deniz Göktaş will appear before a judge for the first time on September 28 at 10:00 AM.
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had launched an investigation against Göktaş after detecting elements of a crime in the content of the video he published on social media platforms.
The suspect Göktaş was detained while entering the country at Istanbul Airport and was subsequently arrested.