The arrest and subsequent release of comedian Deniz Göktaş for his stand-up show "Dead Sea" was brought to the agenda of the international press.
In its interview with Göktaş, who remained in prison for about three months, after his release, the New York Times discussed freedom of expression, political satire and the pressures on comedians in Türkiye.
Göktaş was sentenced to a total of 19 months and 10 days in prison on charges of "insulting the President" and "insulting religious values" at the hearing held on September 28. The court decided to release the comedian, who has been detained for approximately 88 days.
'MY PRIORITY WAS NOT TO GET OUT OF PRISON ASAP'
Speaking to the New York Times, Göktaş explained that he received warnings that his defense in court could make the possibility of release difficult.
Stating that his lawyers and those around him told him that his defense might cause him to stay in prison for a longer time, Göktaş stated that he did not want to step back.
Stating that the release decision was a great relief for him, the comedian emphasized that his main priority was not to regain his freedom as soon as possible.
Stating that he wanted to draw attention not only to his own case but also to a broader discussion about freedom of expression with his defense in court, Göktaş stated that in many parts of the world, people are afraid to speak out of fear of punishment or social reaction.
Stating that he wanted to be an example for comedians, Göktaş emphasized the importance of speaking freely.
He explained that being in prison for three months was a terrible experience, but he wanted to show that artists could withstand such difficulties while defending a principle.
'I STARTED CENSORING MYSELF'
Göktaş said that the more he became known in his profession, the more he had to lose and that this led him to self-censorship, and that he felt uncomfortable with this situation.
Stating that he thought that the students and retirees who came to his shows were more courageous than him in their daily lives, the comedian explained that the fact that they became more shy over time made him feel hypocritical.
Stating that he decided to say the things he found funny on stage again, without thinking about the consequences, Göktaş said that he had the most comfortable sleep of his life on his first night in prison.
Reminding that there were comedians who made much harsher political humor than him on mainstream television channels in Türkiye in the past years, Göktaş argued that tolerance towards criticism has decreased significantly in recent years.
Stating that his own jokes would be light compared to past examples of political satire, Göktaş said that the reaction of the managers to the humor revealed the effect of comedy.
Stating that he staged his show in different cities of Türkiye for three years and had no problems, the comedian stated that there was a significant difference between the audience in the hall and the audience who accessed the show through short videos on social media.
'I DID NOT REGRET A SECOND IN PRISON'
Göktaş responded negatively to the question of whether he regretted his demonstration during the days he spent in prison.
Explaining that the detention period was one of the periods in which he felt the least alone in his life, the comedian stated that this experience gave him a self-confidence he had never had before.
Stating that he had fears in his personal life and did not see himself as a brave person, Göktaş explained that his doubts about himself disappeared during the trial process.
He stated that the self-confidence he gained during this process turned into a feeling he did not want to give up.
Answering the question about the effect of humor against authoritarian governments, Göktaş stated that the power of comedy is limited.
Saying that humor can provide people with empathy, motivation and the courage to speak out, the comedian distanced himself from the idea that it had the power to create direct political change beyond that.
He explained that he wanted to remind the audience that the topics he talked about in his show, with jokes, gestures and sarcastic expressions, were actually ordinary issues.
HE REFERRED TO THE DEBATES IN THE USA: 'WE ALSO HAVE CANCELLATION CULTURE AND PRISON'
Answering The New York Times' questions about political pressures on comedians in the USA and "cancel culture" discussions, Göktaş stated that he had difficulty making a direct comparison between Turkey and the USA.
Stating that comedians in the USA seem much freer to him, Göktaş stated that the two countries may face similar problems in the coming years.
He gave a humorous response to American comedians complaining about the backlash and cancel culture on social media:
“I don't want to brag, but we have both cancel culture and prison.”
HE SAID LENNY BRUCE AS AN EXAMPLE
In his defense in court, Göktaş also referred to Lenny Bruce, one of the important names in American stand-up history.
Reminding that Bruce was tried for his stage show in 1964 and was posthumously pardoned by the Governor of New York approximately 40 years later, Göktaş explained the importance of the artist to him.
He stated that he saw in Bruce's humor the freedom to remain true to himself and act like a naughty child pushing the boundaries.
Stating that Doug Stanhope and George Carlin are among the comedians that influenced him, Göktaş said that he also follows names such as Sarah Silverman, Louis C.K., Mike Birbiglia and Jerrod Carmichael.
HE WROTE HIS NEW SHOW IN PRISON
Explaining that he wrote 20 minutes of material for his new show during his approximately three-month detention period, Göktaş stated that he plans to use them on stage next year.
However, he said that one of the first notes he wrote in the diary he kept in prison was not to talk too much about the case filed against him in his shows.
Stating that it is too early to evaluate how his experiences have changed him, Göktaş stated that he had the opportunity to think about the meaning of life in prison.
The comedian said that people can be satisfied with life not only with the things that make them happy, but also with simple experiences such as sleeping or drinking tea, and emphasized that the feeling of freedom can be preserved even in the most adverse conditions.
