http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/i ... =0&sp=true
BERLIN (Reuters) - German prosecutors are investigating a comedian who recited an obscene poem about Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in a satirical show on national television.
Gerd Deutschler, senior public prosecutor in the western city of Mainz, said at least 20 "private individuals" in Germany had filed a complaint against Jan Boehmermann, the iconoclastic host of the late-night "Neo Magazin Royale" on the public ZDF channel, and also against the broadcaster.
ZDF had already removed video of the poem from its website, saying it did not meet the standards expected of its satire shows.
Deutschler said Boehmermann was being investigated principally on suspicion of the crime of "offending foreign states' organs and representatives". He said the nationality of the complainants was not known.
Boehmermann, who has made a name for himself by pushing the boundaries of satire in a once-staid media landscape, made clear on the show that he was courting controversy.
Before reading his poem, Boehmermann referred to a satirical song broadcast on NDR television that had mocked Erdogan for his authoritarian treatment of journalists. That led Turkey to call in Germany's envoy to provide an explanation, although Germany rejected Turkish protests.
Speaking as if he were addressing Erdogan, Boehmermann explained that the NDR broadcast had fallen under the right to artistic freedom, press freedom and freedom of opinion.
He then offered to illustrate impermissible "abusive criticism", saying "You're not allowed to do this", and read the poem. Besides its crude sexual references, the piece accused Erdogan of repressing minorities and mistreating Kurds and Christians. It was shown with Turkish subtitles.
ZDF said it would provide the prosecutor with a copy of the video, as requested, but could not comment further on a live investigation.
The incident is awkward for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has spearheaded EU efforts to secure Turkey's help in dealing with Europe's migrant crisis. In a telephone conversation with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, she said the poem had been "deliberately offensive".
The crime in question carries a maximum punishment of three years' imprisonment, but Deutschler said it was not yet clear if that would apply in this case.
(Reporting by Michelle Martin; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
There is a line between satire and outright defamation of character and the recording in question goes into outright defamation of character without having facts to back it.
Erdogan is not killing Kurds, they make up a large portion of his electorate and AKP could not have the 14 year streak they have had without the Kurdish Vote. Erdogan is however fighting the PKK Terrorist group whose members just so happen to be predominantly Kurdish and is hated by the majority of Kurds as its victims are largely Kurds themselves.
Till a few years ago, you could not say Armenian Holocaust in Turkey, then Erdogan got that law repealed and acknowledged the Genocide in Armenian which till his party got rid of the law would have been illegal to speak.
While Erdogan openly hates Gays, MHP and CHP both voted against an amendment written by Him and AKP to legally recognize their marriages and recognize sex changes as a basic human right which the State will pay for, the latter of which is only recognized in Iran of all places following a Fatwa by Imam Khomeni of all people. MHP and CHP are the secularists by the way who also blocked for years women who asked for the right to wear their choice of clothing from Parliament, Public Buildings, and Universities till AKP put a stop to it.
Also Daily Zaman was found to be a front for the Gulenist Terrorist Organization that tried to Coup the Government in 2013 and whose leader is currently under several FBI investigations for money laundering and other illegal activities.
Hurriyet on the other hand constantly criticizes Erdogan everyday and has not been shut down. They often Satire him, have for 14 years. Erdogan did nothing to them because they did not defame him. The fact CHP, MHP, and HDP (Who could not have even existed without Erdogan changing laws to allow them to run and serve in the peace process), is proof Erdogan is not a dictator. Erdogan is even rejecting calls from his party to ban HDP, stating only those found to have actually aided PKK by using their immunity and official cars to smuggle them weapons should be stripped of immunity and prosecuted. Erdogan also rejected the openly genocidal plan put forth by MHP to deal with the PKK by just giving 24 hour evacuation notices and then leveling the place.
Seriously actually get the damn facts before slamming Erdogan and mouthing off conspiracy theories. The man is the first democratically elected President of Turkey who before he changed the laws was chosen by the Parliament.
