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Erdoğan fights for probe into German TV comic to be reopened Erdoğan fights for inquiry into German TV comic to be reopened
(35 minutes later)
The Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has filed an appeal to contest a decision by German authorities to drop an investigation into a TV comic who satirised him, according to officials in Germany.The Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has filed an appeal to contest a decision by German authorities to drop an investigation into a TV comic who satirised him, according to officials in Germany.
The public prosecutor’s office in Mainz, western Germany, said Erdoğan had formally filed a request to have the decision overturned.The public prosecutor’s office in Mainz, western Germany, said Erdoğan had formally filed a request to have the decision overturned.
The suit was filed by Erdoğan’s lawyer on Sunday, Mainz head prosecutor Andrea Keller said. The appeal would be handled by the general prosecutor’s office in Koblenz.The suit was filed by Erdoğan’s lawyer on Sunday, Mainz head prosecutor Andrea Keller said. The appeal would be handled by the general prosecutor’s office in Koblenz.
The episode has had a toxic effect on German-Turkish relations, casting a shadow over attempts to stem the influx of Syrian migrants arriving via Turkey.The episode has had a toxic effect on German-Turkish relations, casting a shadow over attempts to stem the influx of Syrian migrants arriving via Turkey.
It stems from a broadcast on German’s public TV channel ZDF in March by comedian Jan Böhmermann.It stems from a broadcast on German’s public TV channel ZDF in March by comedian Jan Böhmermann.
Böhmermann recited a so-called “Defamatory Poem”, satirically accusing of Erdoğan of bestiality and paedophilia.Böhmermann recited a so-called “Defamatory Poem”, satirically accusing of Erdoğan of bestiality and paedophilia.
Böhmermann said the piece was a reaction to Ankara’s decision to summon Germany’s ambassador over another satirical song broadcast on German TV that lampooned Erdoğan in far tamer language.Böhmermann said the piece was a reaction to Ankara’s decision to summon Germany’s ambassador over another satirical song broadcast on German TV that lampooned Erdoğan in far tamer language.
The comic acknowledged the poem was intended to provoke, and would flout Germany’s legal limits to free speech.The comic acknowledged the poem was intended to provoke, and would flout Germany’s legal limits to free speech.
But the poem did not go down well in Ankara and Erdoğan filed a criminal complaint.But the poem did not go down well in Ankara and Erdoğan filed a criminal complaint.
In April, Chancellor Angela Merkel authorised an investigation into whether Böhmermann could be convicted under rarely enforced 19th-century laws on lèse-majesté – violating a sovereign’s dignity – a decision that earned her a rebuke from German rights groups.In April, Chancellor Angela Merkel authorised an investigation into whether Böhmermann could be convicted under rarely enforced 19th-century laws on lèse-majesté – violating a sovereign’s dignity – a decision that earned her a rebuke from German rights groups.
The Mainz prosecutors announced on 4 October that they were scrapping the investigation as the satire was so exaggerated it could not be taken seriously.The Mainz prosecutors announced on 4 October that they were scrapping the investigation as the satire was so exaggerated it could not be taken seriously.
“There is no evidence that the accused was making a serious attack on the personal or social reputation of the Turkish president,” they concluded.“There is no evidence that the accused was making a serious attack on the personal or social reputation of the Turkish president,” they concluded.
German prosecutors are scheduled to rule next month on another aspect of Erdoğan’s complaint, which calls for a ban on all further broadcasts of the poem.German prosecutors are scheduled to rule next month on another aspect of Erdoğan’s complaint, which calls for a ban on all further broadcasts of the poem.