Monday, April 11, 2016

GERMANY MAY PROSECUTE COMEDIAN FOR MAKING FUN OF TURKISH PRESIDENT


BERLIN:  Germany said Monday it was reviewing a formal request from Ankara to prosecute a TV satirist who crudely insulted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on air, amid a bitter row over free speech.
Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman Steffen Seibert told reporters that Berlin had received a “note verbale”, a formal diplomatic protest, from Turkey asking for “criminal proceedings” against celebrity comedian Jan Boehmermann.
Seibert said a decision by officials at the chancellery, foreign ministry and justice ministry could be expected in the coming days on whether a probe under section 103 of the criminal code — insulting organs or representatives of foreign states — could go forward.
The charge can carry a sentence of up to three years in prison.
Seibert nevertheless stressed Berlin’s constitutional commitment to freedom of expression.
“This applies, and this is very important to me, regardless of whether the chancellor personally finds something artistically successful or repellent, tasteful or tasteless,” he said.

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