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Turkish comedian Tuba Ulu was taken into custody after making remarks about Ottoman emperor Sultan Suleiman I, widely known as Suleiman the Magnificent, during a stand-up performance. Authorities cited her statements as an insult to the nation's historical, national, and spiritual values.
Ulu, recognized among Türkiye's prominent female comedians, reportedly made a joke about Sultan Suleiman I’s marriage to Hurrem Sultan during her show. The content, which circulated publicly on social media platforms, drew attention from law enforcement and prompted an official investigation.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office released a statement explaining the legal reasoning behind the detention. They indicated that Ulu “published obscene words openly in a video available to the public, which were determined to insult our historical, national, and spiritual values.” The statement referred to Ulu only by her initials, T.U., consistent with Turkish legal practice in ongoing investigations.
The statement further clarified that law enforcement officers acted upon directives issued by the prosecutor's office:
"The person identified as T.U., who openly published obscene words in a video circulating publicly on social media, and whose words were determined to insult our historical, national, and spiritual values, has been taken into custody by Istanbul Police Department teams as part of the ongoing investigation. This is announced to the public with respect."
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