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German satirist who mocked Erdogan says Merkel 'filleted' him | German satirist who mocked Erdogan says Merkel 'filleted' him |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A German comedian under investigation for mocking the Turkish president has accused Angela Merkel of "filleting" him on behalf of a "despot". | A German comedian under investigation for mocking the Turkish president has accused Angela Merkel of "filleting" him on behalf of a "despot". |
Prosecutors began investigating Jan Boehmermann after he read an obscene poem about Recep Tayyip Erdogan on TV. | Prosecutors began investigating Jan Boehmermann after he read an obscene poem about Recep Tayyip Erdogan on TV. |
Ms Merkel, the German chancellor, faced heavy criticism over the decision. | Ms Merkel, the German chancellor, faced heavy criticism over the decision. |
The comedian's comments come on World Press Freedom day, amid widespread criticism of Turkey's government over its crackdown on the country's media. | The comedian's comments come on World Press Freedom day, amid widespread criticism of Turkey's government over its crackdown on the country's media. |
Speaking publicly about the investigation for the first time, Mr Boehmermann told Germany's Die Zeit newspaper: "The chancellor must not wobble when it's a matter of freedom of opinion. | Speaking publicly about the investigation for the first time, Mr Boehmermann told Germany's Die Zeit newspaper: "The chancellor must not wobble when it's a matter of freedom of opinion. |
"But instead, she filleted me, served me for tea to a highly strung despot and made me into a German Ai Weiwei." | "But instead, she filleted me, served me for tea to a highly strung despot and made me into a German Ai Weiwei." |
Ai Weiwei is a Chinese dissident artist who was prosecuted and imprisoned by his home country. | Ai Weiwei is a Chinese dissident artist who was prosecuted and imprisoned by his home country. |
Boehmermann, considered Germany's most incisive satirist, read the obscene poem on his Neo Magazin Royale programme, making clear that it included material that broke German laws on free speech. | Boehmermann, considered Germany's most incisive satirist, read the obscene poem on his Neo Magazin Royale programme, making clear that it included material that broke German laws on free speech. |
Section 103 of the criminal code bans insulting representatives or organs belonging to foreign states. | Section 103 of the criminal code bans insulting representatives or organs belonging to foreign states. |
In particular, the poem made references to sex with goats and sheep, as well as repression of Turkish minorities. Reports said that Mr Erdogan demanded Germany press charges against the comedian. | In particular, the poem made references to sex with goats and sheep, as well as repression of Turkish minorities. Reports said that Mr Erdogan demanded Germany press charges against the comedian. |
German law forbids citizens to insult foreign leaders, but the decision to investigate Mr Boehmermann has proved highly controversial. | German law forbids citizens to insult foreign leaders, but the decision to investigate Mr Boehmermann has proved highly controversial. |
Prosecutors dealing with the case say they are unsure when a decision will be made on whether to pursue it. | Prosecutors dealing with the case say they are unsure when a decision will be made on whether to pursue it. |
The Turkish president has been widely condemned for the heavy-handed treatment of journalists seen as critical of his government. | The Turkish president has been widely condemned for the heavy-handed treatment of journalists seen as critical of his government. |
Turkish prosecutors have opened more than 1,800 cases against people for insulting him since he became president in 2014. | Turkish prosecutors have opened more than 1,800 cases against people for insulting him since he became president in 2014. |
Also on Tuesday, Turkish novelist and Nobel prize-winner Orhan Pamuk attended a court hearing in the Turkish city of Istanbul in solidarity with a fellow writer who is accused of insulting Mr Erdogan. | |
In his column in the Taraf newspaper, Murat Belge suggested that the president had reignited a conflict against Kurdish rebels to win votes. He is facing four years in jail if convicted. | In his column in the Taraf newspaper, Murat Belge suggested that the president had reignited a conflict against Kurdish rebels to win votes. He is facing four years in jail if convicted. |
Mr Pamuk told a Turkish news agency he was dismayed by the growing number of cases that were trying to silence, intimidate and deter opponents of the government. | Mr Pamuk told a Turkish news agency he was dismayed by the growing number of cases that were trying to silence, intimidate and deter opponents of the government. |
Among the most recent cases, a Dutch-Turkish journalist was last week told she was not allowed to leave Turkey after she tweeted comments critical of Mr Erdogan. | Among the most recent cases, a Dutch-Turkish journalist was last week told she was not allowed to leave Turkey after she tweeted comments critical of Mr Erdogan. |
Ebru Umar was briefly arrested over the tweets, before being freed and told to report to police twice a week. | Ebru Umar was briefly arrested over the tweets, before being freed and told to report to police twice a week. |
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