Erdogan is getting hissy - Germany investigates comedian over Erdogan poem

[Chagos]

A German satirist could face three years in prison for a poem about Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a freedom of speech case that could turn against chancellor Angela Merkel.

https://euobserver.com/justice/132961

Amazing how one can hardly find an English language piece on this. "The Fail" asleep or sumpin'?

Anycase, the above article is nearly 5 days old, the whole thing is meanwhile causing an enormous ruckus in the German political scene.

The opposition is having a heyday in calling out Merkel for not having (straight away) told Edogan to keep his mitts out of German internal affairs and the coalition partner SPD is joining into the criticism.

The criticism extends to Merkel, without anyone asking her at all, having made it known that she expressed her distaste at the satire to Erdogan already.

"Brown-nosing" is the milder of criticisms being levelled and criticism of the Turkey deal to stem refugees are on the rise again, especially in view of what Germany (here leading the EU) has let itself in for with an idjit like the would-be Turkish Sultan.

Interesting to learn that Germany even has a paragraph in law that deals with the insult towards a foreign head of state (can you believe it?:roll and can sentence for that offence with a term of up to three years.

The poem was a follow-up to the music video (same author) and Erdogan's reaction to it a few days back. Böhmermann, not the highlight of German satire, nevertheless cloaked it in explanations made before, during and after the transmission of this particular piece, all designed to show WHAT one may NOT say under the cloak of satire.
And then proceeded to say it.:lamo

The gubmint has now retired to investigate and discuss the issue and to decide "within the next days" whether or not to give permission for proceedings to be opened (the State Attorney's office not being able to act without it).

In addition Erdogan has now filed suit in Germany all on his own (outside of being Head of State) with the State Attorney in Mainz (the TV station's and thus Böhmermann's jurisdiction) and that body needs no permission to proceed on account of a private person filing. Here also the accusation is "insult" but any sentence (if proceedings are at all opened) would hardly exceed a fine.

The thing that's really at stake here is the freedom of satire, art, press, speech, the whole caboodle. Add to that the interfering and presumptuous take of an overblown egomaniac who, were he half the statesman he wants to be seen as, would have ignored the whole thing.

Plus, of course, the filthy deal on refugees. Filthy not wrt to the actual issue but because it was made with such filth.

The rumblings have long since reached Bruxelles and the general tenor is clear. Never, never, with that kind of person at the helm, will Turkey be allowed entry into the EU.

It would be absolutely hilarious if it didn't have the potential of heralding a major crisis.

 

[Crovax]

3 years prison for insulting a foreign leader, so much for freedom of speech

 

[Captain Adverse]

3 years prison for insulting a foreign leader, so much for freedom of speech

I don't think they have the same understanding of free speech we do.

Although now that I think on it, we're not so free speech friendly these days either...

...what with all the freedom from offense/cultural appropriation/safe space "activism" we keep seeing in the news.

 

[Crovax]

I don't think they have the same understanding of free speech we do.

Although now that I think on it, we're not so free speech friendly these days either...

...what with all the freedom from offense/cultural appropriation/safe space actions we keep seeing in the news.

Yes the left seems to be copying their European counterparts in more than just socialism

 

[Roadvirus]

3 years prison for insulting a foreign leader, so much for freedom of speech

You have to remember: This is the same part of the world that will jail you for saying "Islam is evil" (Meanwhile, terrorist supporting yahoos like Anjem Choudary spent years getting away with spouting Anti-Western/Pro-Jihadist BS).

 

[Chagos]

I don't think they have the same understanding of free speech we do.

Although now that I think on it, we're not so free speech friendly these days either...

...what with all the freedom from offense/cultural appropriation/safe space "activism" we keep seeing in the news.

The paragraph governing the "insult of foreign heads of states" is actually ages old and particular to Germany only (France finds it ludicrous). I can't find anything on when it last actually found application, German friends just told me today that they think they recall something with the Shah, decades ago. A couple of attempt since, none successful.

The private suit that Erdogan has additionally filed doesn't fall under the paragraph what with only the government being able to allow its application. Private proceedings are "just" slander matters that can be pursued, irrespective of the outcome.

 

[Chagos]

You have to remember: This is the same part of the world that will jail you for saying "Islam is evil" (Meanwhile, terrorist supporting yahoos like Anjem Choudary spent years getting away with spouting Anti-Western/Pro-Jihadist BS).

The usual balderdash just as habitually unsubstantiated, with which you invade any thread and be it on growing flowers, just so you can get your comment in.

You got anything substantial to say on the thread topic itself?

Yeah, I thought not.:roll:

 

[Chagos]

update

The Public Prosecutor (Mainz, Germany) dismissed Erdogan's suit yesterday. Investigations are stopped and the whole thing filed under "forget it".

There's still a civil suit pending before a Hamburg court, designed basically to prevent any further spread of the poem that peed the Sultan off, but that doesn't have much chance of succeeding either.

By all reports Turkey (Erdogan) is furious.

Good on all counts.