Comedian Egemen Şimşek was arrested on charges of insulting religious values held by a segment of the public.
Istanbul’s Küçükçekmece Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into Şimşek over jokes about Moses and Jesus in his stand-up performance titled “Contrary Thoughts.”
Pro-government media outlets accused Şimşek of blasphemy and insulting prophets.
His arrest follows a series of recent legal actions targeting artists and performers for alleged violations of “family values,” “public morality,” or “religious sensitivities.”
In recent months, singer Mabel Matiz was summoned to testify after a complaint over the lyrics of his song “Perperişan,” and the song was banned from social media platforms. The satirical magazine Leman faced prosecution, a print seizure, and staff arrests after publishing a cartoon involving religious figures. The metal band Sarinvomit and the “Soğuk Savaş” YouTube show also faced legal action over content deemed offensive to religious values.
