Turkish Comedian Deniz Göktaş Arrested Over Joke About Erdoğan's Son

Deniz Göktaş, a 32-year-old Turkish comedian known for his dry, sarcastic style targeting authority, has been arrested and placed in pre-trial detention after a joke about President Erdoğan's son went viral with 7.5 million clicks. Upon landing in Istanbul in early July following a tour, Göktaş was detained by state authorities. He had previously posted on X that he was not fleeing but on vacation with minimal luggage, and would return if needed. His stand-up show 'Ölü Deniz' has now become a political scandal, highlighting the Turkish government's crackdown on dissent and humor.