SPOT unequivocally condemns the arrest of Comedian Deniz Göktaş after being detained at Istanbul Airport upon his return from abroad. He has made clear that he does not accept the charges against him over remarks made during his stand-up show “Ölü Deniz” (“Dead Sea”) that he “insulted the President” and “incited hatred and hostility or degraded the public.”
The arrest of Deniz Göktaş is unacceptable and along with other such arrests is intended to suppress freedom of expression and to intimidate the public.
Freedom of expression is a fundamental right guaranteed by the constitution in Turkey and this is yet another attack on this right.
We call on the Turkish government to drop all charges against Deniz Göktaş, release him immediately and to abide by the constitution which allows freedom of expression as a fundamental right.
SPOT is an umbrella group made up of progressive organisations, campaign groups and trade unions in the UK.