Şahan Gökbakar protests Deniz Göktaş's arrest: 'It is not acceptable'
Actor Şahan Gökbakar reacted to the arrest of comedian Deniz Göktaş, stating that Göktaş being tried while in custody is unacceptable.
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Comedian Deniz Göktaş, who became a national talking point with his stand-up show 'Ölü Deniz' (Dead Sea) and faced investigations for 'insulting religious values' and 'insulting the President,' was arrested yesterday upon his return to Turkey from an overseas trip on charges of 'inciting the public to hatred and hostility or insulting' and 'insulting the President.'
Reacting to Göktaş's arrest, actor Şahan Gökbakar shared the following statement on his social media account:
"I learned with sadness that Deniz was arrested due to jokes in his show! It is not acceptable to arrest and try someone who returned to his country of his own volition, based on a crime he allegedly committed through speech, for which he would likely not even face prison time if convicted!
Deniz is a very intelligent, talented, and pure-hearted good person.
I am also sure that he does not want to upset or hurt anyone. I hope he is released as soon as possible!"