The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has completed its investigation into comedian İmran Deniz Göktaş’s “Ölü Deniz” show at the Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Open-Air Theatre. The indictment seeks Göktaş’s punishment under Articles 216, 299 and 215 of TCK for inciting the public to hatred and hostility, insulting the President, and praising a crime and a criminal; it also requests the application of Article 218. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is listed as the complainant, while reports filed by various individuals, a trade union and CİMER were added to the case file. The investigation was launched after the show was shared on YouTube on June 24, 2026. A video analysis and a phone examination report dated August 31, 2026, were added to the case file. Göktaş’s remarks about Erdoğan and statements concerning people who fast were made the subject of the charges. The prosecutor’s office argued that these remarks exceeded the limits of criticism. Göktaş admitted writing and sharing the text. Authorization to prosecute was granted on August 13, 2026.
Why it matters
The case reaching the indictment stage shows that the dispute has moved beyond the scope of an investigation and into a judicial process to be assessed by the court. The fact that multiple charges and different articles of law have been raised together indicates that the case will be examined not only on the basis of a single statement, but also according to the show as a whole, the way it was shared and the examination reports added to the case file. The President’s being listed as the complainant also brings to the fore the tension between freedom of expression and the criminal limits applicable to remarks directed at a public official. The central question that remains is how the prosecutor’s assessment that the limits of criticism were exceeded, as well as the statements cited as the basis for the charges, will be addressed during the trial.
Background
Deniz is not a new name in the FikirPilot archive: we have published 3 reports mentioning this name in the last 90 days; the latest is dated 29 August 2026.