Turkish comedian sent to jail to await trial on charges of insulting Erdogan

A Turkish comedian has been sent to jail to await trial after being detained over allegations that he insulted President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Deniz Goktas, 32, was arrested after arriving at Istanbul airport, according to reports. Authorities accused him of insulting Erdogan, charges that place him in the growing set of legal cases brought against people criticized as challenging Turkey’s leadership or values.

The arrest follows a wider crackdown in Turkey that has targeted not only political voices, but also musicians, artists, journalists, and other public figures, particularly those accused of expressing views viewed as critical by the government.

Investigations and prosecutions tied to insult-related allegations and broader restrictions on dissent have increased in recent years, and the detention of Goktas is the latest example of the trend.