Turkish comedian Deniz Goktas was released from prison on Monday after spending nearly three months in pretrial detention over remarks in a stand-up show that went viral on YouTube. An Istanbul court sentenced Goktas, 32, to 19 months in prison at his first hearing for insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and denigrating religious values, and ordered his release, Hurriyet newspaper reported. He had spent 88 days in prison.

Goktas had also faced charges of inciting hatred and hostility and praising crime over remarks made during his 90-minute "Dead Sea" show. Prosecutors had sought a sentence of as much as 12 years and two months. Goktas had also faced charges of inciting hatred and hostility and praising crime over remarks made during his 90-minute "Dead Sea" show.

Prosecutors had sought a sentence of as much as 12 years and two months. The show, uploaded to YouTube in June, has drawn more than 15 million views. It included jokes and commentary about Erdogan, religion, crime and Turkish politics.

Prosecutors opened an investigation shortly after it was posted online. Goktas was detained at Istanbul Airport in early July after returning from abroad and was formally arrested on July 3. A court ordered his release in late August, but he remained behind bars after authorities brought an additional charge of praising crime.