Trial of comedian Tuba Ulu over Sultan Suleiman joke adjourned to July 14
The prosecution has requested that Tuba Ulu be punished for "inciting the public to hatred and hostility" due to remarks made during her stand-up show.
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Comedian Tuba Ulu, who is on trial for a joke she made during her stand-up show regarding Suleiman the Magnificent and Hürrem Sultan, appeared in court on July 6. The hearing, held at the Istanbul 13th Criminal Court of First Instance, was adjourned to July 14 to allow additional time for the defense.
The prosecution has requested that Ulu be sentenced to up to three years in prison for the crime of "inciting the public to hatred and hostility." According to the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), which monitored the hearing, the prosecution argued that the statements in the show contained sexualized degradation of the female body and were of a nature to disrupt public order.
Ulu denied the accusations. Stating that she had no intention of hurting anyone or degrading any values, the comedian requested her acquittal.
Ulu's lawyer also stated that her client's words on stage should be considered within the scope of satire. The defense argued that the case is an attempt to define the boundaries of humor in Turkey through the judiciary.
DEBATE ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
The joke in question became a topic of discussion after Ulu referenced Suleiman the Magnificent and Hürrem Sultan during a segment on relationships and marriage in one of her shows. Following the circulation of clips from the show on social media, Ulu was detained on April 9 and later released under judicial control.
After the detention, Nacho Sanchez Amor, the European Parliament's Turkey Rapporteur, criticized the pressure on freedom of expression in Turkey, stating that he found it "chilling that a country would detain comedians for harmless jokes."
The Actors' Union also issued a statement regarding the process, emphasizing that art, criticism, humor, and freedom of expression are indispensable elements of a democratic society, stating, "humor cannot be put on trial, freedom of expression is not a crime."
Recently, investigations opened due to humor content have sparked public debate. Boğaç Soydemir and Enes Akgündüz, hosts of the YouTube program "Soğuk Savaş" (Cold War), were arrested in September 2025; they were later released following a decision to defer the announcement of the verdict regarding their prison sentences.
Comedian Deniz Göktaş was also detained upon his return to Turkey on July 2 after uploading his "Ölü Deniz" (Dead Sea) show to YouTube, and was arrested on charges of "insulting the president" and "publicly inciting the public to hatred and hostility."