This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/angela-merkel-accepts-turkish-request-to-seek-prosecution-of-german-comedian-a6985686.html
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 4 | Version 5 |
---|---|
Angela Merkel accepts Turkish request to seek prosecution of German comedian Jan Bohmermann | Angela Merkel accepts Turkish request to seek prosecution of German comedian Jan Bohmermann |
(35 minutes later) | |
Angela Merkel has accepted a request from Turkey to seek the prosecution of a comedian who read out an offensive poem about the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on German television. | Angela Merkel has accepted a request from Turkey to seek the prosecution of a comedian who read out an offensive poem about the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on German television. |
Under an obscure paragraph of Germany's criminal code, the government has to authorise prosecutors to pursue a case against the comedian, Jan Böhmermann, who stands accused of insulting a foreign leader. | |
"There were different opinions between the coalition partners – the conservatives and the SPD (Social Democrats)," Ms Merkel said. | "There were different opinions between the coalition partners – the conservatives and the SPD (Social Democrats)," Ms Merkel said. |
"The outcome is that the German government will give the authorisation in the current case," she added, stressing that this was not a decision about the merits of the prosecution's case against Böhmermann. | "The outcome is that the German government will give the authorisation in the current case," she added, stressing that this was not a decision about the merits of the prosecution's case against Böhmermann. |
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. | 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. |
In the poem Böhmermann calls the Turkish premier a "goat fucker" and also says Mr Erdogan "watches child porn while kicking Kurds", in reference to accusations against him that he is persecuting the Kurdish minority in the country. | In the poem Böhmermann calls the Turkish premier a "goat fucker" and also says Mr Erdogan "watches child porn while kicking Kurds", in reference to accusations against him that he is persecuting the Kurdish minority in the country. |
"Erdogan is definitely a president with a small tail," adds the comedian, in a line where "tail" is understood in German to refer to another part of the male anatomy. | "Erdogan is definitely a president with a small tail," adds the comedian, in a line where "tail" is understood in German to refer to another part of the male anatomy. |
Ms Merkel has recently helped broker a deal with Mr Erdogan that for every refugee returned from Greece back to Turkey, one will be admitted into the EU from Turkey's refugee camps. | Ms Merkel has recently helped broker a deal with Mr Erdogan that for every refugee returned from Greece back to Turkey, one will be admitted into the EU from Turkey's refugee camps. |
Additional reporting by agencies | Additional reporting by agencies |