Justice
Turkish Comedian Sentenced for Insulting Erdogan in Performance
A Turkish court sentenced comedian Deniz Göktaş to 19 months in prison for insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and violating religious values during a performance, though he was acquitted of praising criminality. The 32-year-old, known for political satire, was arrested on July 3 after a YouTube video of his show went viral with 9 million views. He has been released pending an appeal, as judgments are not final until reviewed by a higher court. His case reflects the Turkish government's increasingly harsh crackdown on critics, including politicians, artists, journalists, and LGBTQ+ activists.
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