German comedian faces prosecution for 'insulting' Erdogan.
Discussion
Angela Merkel accepts Turkish request to seek prosecution of German comedian
article said:
Angela Merkel has accepted a request from Turkey to seek prosecution of a German comedian who read out a sexually crude poem about the Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on German television.
Under a section of Germany's criminal code, the government has to authorise prosecutors to pursue a case against the comedian, Jan Boehmermann, who is accused of insulting a foreign leader.
Under a section of Germany's criminal code, the government has to authorise prosecutors to pursue a case against the comedian, Jan Boehmermann, who is accused of insulting a foreign leader.
Does seem strange considering they are repealing the code..
article said:
However, the German leader also announced that the country would by 2018 scrap the rarely enforced section 103 of the criminal code - insulting representatives of foreign states - as a result of the embarrassing affair
Yep it makes Merkel's decision today even more bizarre.
And this was the same lady who led the Je suis Charlie rally in Paris to defend free speech.
And this was the same lady who led the Je suis Charlie rally in Paris to defend free speech.
TonyToniTone said:
Does seem strange considering they are repealing the code..
article said:
However, the German leader also announced that the country would by 2018 scrap the rarely enforced section 103 of the criminal code - insulting representatives of foreign states - as a result of the embarrassing affair
The German government is stuck on this one as the guy has broken the law. From listening to the radio today (in Germany) it relates to a very old law that no one really remembered and was subsequently found by Erdogan's lawyers. If they didn't persue a state backed case Erdogan would be fully entitled (and mostly) to seek a civil prosecution. The general thoughts seeks to be that the government will change the law as soon as possible and delay any prosecution case until such time that it is no longer a criminal offence.
anonymous said:
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More like being found out.It is easy to be popular when there are no difficult decisions to be made.
Her actions over the last year or so have the potential to destroy the Christian Democrats as the party of the mainstream centre right as well as being an outright betrayal of her country.
IMHO the prosecution is outdated but it is the law here "insulting foreign statesmen". His so-called poem was VERY insulting calling him a paedophile and a goat f**cker amongst other things. A libel case could stand, but to dig out ancient laws is daft and shows how Fr Mürkül is now totally subservient to an osmanic potentate. I have absolutely no respect for Erdogan who seems to be supportive of ISIS and anything which might project him into the role of new turkish emperor.....
kers.
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