Friday, April 15, 2016

Merkel bows to Erdogan

German satirist Jan Böhmermann has catapulted Germany into a row with Turkish President Erdogan and also caused a major political juridical controversy within Germany.

Böhmermann has written a satirical song about Erdogan, referring to his 1,000-room palace, Turkey's poor human rights record and many other aspects of life in Turkey, including its relationship with the Kurds. It also casts scorn on the money the EU has given Turkey in return for hosting Syrian refugees.

Erdogan objected to the song and contacted Chancellor Merkel.

There is a clause in the German Constitution, which considers it an offence to insult a foreign head of state.

And Merkel, while saying the clause must be removed to protect press and artistic freedom, is in the meantime bowing to Erdgan's wishes.

It means Jan Böhmermann faces a court case. Germany is up in arms. And the sort of people who take themselves so seriously.


1 comment:

Anonymous said...

The jolly old sultan of Ankara.
He wooed the fair lady Angela.
When he heard her TV
had belittled his p....
He told her to try it in camera.

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