CHP Chairman Özgür Özel has reacted to the arrest of comedian Deniz Göktaş, which was based on his stand-up show titled "Ölü Deniz" (Dead Sea).
Göktaş had been accused of "inciting the public to hatred and hostility or insulting them" and "insulting the President." In a statement on his social media account, Özel criticized the arrest decision, noting that Göktaş "did not flee and returned to his country."
In his statement, Özel targeted the government, saying, "We are facing a regime that treats those who are not one of them with hatred." The CHP leader argued that authoritarian administrations are trying to intimidate society through oppression.
"But we are now at a turning point. Either we will become servants to this dark order, or we will all defend the gains of our Republic, inherited from Atatürk, together. They will not be able to steal our joy, Deniz... It is either autocracy or democracy!"
Özel's statement was among the reactions from the political sphere regarding Göktaş's arrest. The CHP leader described Göktaş as "just one of the victims of this dark order."
News Source: 12punto
