A popular Turkish comedian went on trial on Monday for allegedly insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other offences during a stand-up performance. Deniz Goktas, 32, known for his dry wit and political satire, offered a sharp defence that drew laughter from much of the courtroom.

Goktas was arrested on July 3, a week after a YouTube video of his “Dead Sea” show went viral and attracted nine million views. He faces charges of insulting Erdogan, incitement to public hatred and praising crime and criminals. If convicted, he could face around a decade in prison.

After spending 88 days in custody, Goktas took the stand at Caglayan courthouse and denied the charges. He argued that Erdogan should be open to satire and pointed out that earlier generations of Turkish comedians and political satirists had not been prosecuted for similar material.

He said the laws on freedom of expression had not changed, but the tolerance for jokes had declined. Goktas described humour as a long-standing part of Turkish culture and rejected any place for censorship or detention of artists. He asked the court to acquit and release him.

The case is part of a wider crackdown on people seen as critical of the government. Outside the courthouse, about 50 protesters gathered in the rain to show support, chanting that Goktas was not alone. The comedian is being held at a high-security prison west of Istanbul.

Photo credit: Punch Newspaper