Turkish comedian Deniz Göktaş was arrested at Istanbul Airport on 2 July, days after prosecutors launched an investigation into his standup special Ölü Deniz, which was uploaded to YouTube on 24 June and has since amassed over 10 million views. A court has since ordered the 32-year-old to remain in custody pending trial on charges of publicly insulting religious values and insulting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, reported the BBC.

Insulting the president is a criminal offence in Turkey and can land you in prison for upto 4 years. Göktaş was returning from a holiday when he was picked by authorities in Istanbul. During questioning, the comedian maintained that his material was satirical and said he had no intention of insulting either religion or the president.

The arrest has reignited concerns around freedom of expression in Turkey under President Erdoğan’s government. Critics argue that the space for dissent has steadily narrowed over the past two decades, with journalists, artists, musicians and political opponents increasingly facing investigations and legal action over their speech. Göktaş is the latest public figure to be prosecuted under laws that criminalise insulting the president and offending religious values. Supporters gathered outside the courthouse following the arrest, calling the case another blow to artistic freedom in the country.

His arrest also comes amid a broader crackdown that has seen satirical magazine Leman face prosecution over a cartoon depicting religious figures, while comedian Tuba Ulu was briefly detained earlier this year for allegedly insulting a revered historical figure in a joke.