Germany has an obscure 19th century law on the books that makes it a crime for German citizens to insult foreign heads of state.
Most obscure laws remain on the books as obscure laws never enforced, or even prosecuted.
In this case, the Merkel administration launched a criminal investigation of Jan Böhmermann, an award-winning comedian and host of Neo Magazin Royale, a late-night talk show.
Böhmermann is accused of insulting Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Mercy me! Let’s not insult corrupt leaders, especially when you are in bed with them.
Please consider Merkel Allows Criminal Probe into Satirical Attack on Turkish PM
Chancellor Angela Merkel has given the go-ahead for German authorities to launch a criminal investigation against a well-known TV comedian for his satirical attack on Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a move that has caused an outcry among supporters of free speech in Germany.
She also said Germany would abolish article 103 of its criminal code which makes it a crime to insult a foreign head of state and which paved the way for Mr Erdogan to request that the TV star be prosecuted.
Ms Merkel’s decision split the German government. “The criminal prosecution of satire over lese majeste does not belong in a modern democracy,” said Thomas Oppermann, a senior official in the social democratic party, the junior partner in Ms Merkel’s government.
“Unbearable kowtowing,” tweeted Sahra Wagenknecht, a leader of the leftwing opposition party Die Linke, who accused Ms Merkel of “sacrificing Germany’s freedom of the press.”
Ms Merkel’s decision illustrates the awkward balancing act she has been forced into by Germany’s growing dependence on Turkey to help curb the massive inflows of refugees from the Middle East into Europe.
But it will lead to suspicions that Mr Erdogan has been able to take advantage of his increased leverage over EU leaders to successfully export his aggressive brand of censorship into Europe.
Critics of the deal say it has laid Ms Merkel’s government open to pressure from Mr Erdogan, whose role in the successful implementation of the EU-Turkey deal is crucial.
Nothing better exemplifies this, they claim, than the Böhmermann scandal, which was triggered two weeks ago when the comedian read out a poem on his TV show describing Mr Erdogan as having sex with sheep and goats and “watching child porn” while “kicking Kurds and beating up Christians”.
Ms Merkel said Turkey was a Nato ally that was seeking EU membership and as a “close partner” was due “respect”.
But she also said Germany was “concerned” about the state of the media in Turkey and the fate of individual journalists, as well as the restrictions it had imposed on the right to demonstrate.
Freedom of Speech – Or Not
There is either freedom of speech or their isn’t. Although Böhmermann stepped well over the line into very distasteful satire, it was to purposely draw attention to someone with a miserable record on freedom of speech, freedom of the press, Kurds, state brutality, etc.
Politico reports “Merkel could have also argued that since Erdoğan has filed a separate defamation complaint, the government saw no need to invoke the law on offending foreign leaders. More than 80 percent of Germans are opposed to the investigation, according to a poll published by Die Welt. Most Germans see it as a transparent attempt to appease Erdoğan.”
Please recall that Erodgan took over the nations largest newspaper in early March. There is no freedom of speech or press in Turkey. For details please see Devil Demands and Receives More Concessions from Merkel: In Bed with a Dictator.
Saying Erdogan deserves respect is like saying mud pies taste like ice cream. Erdogan deserves no respect nor does anyone in bed with him.
Devil Demand More Concessions of Merkel
The devil is back with more demands: Prosecute comedians.
Merkel’s correct response should have been, “We will launch an investigation of the law and repeal it.”
We cherish freedom of speech and freedom of the press. You ought to try it.
Mike “Mish” Shedlock
The satire was in a form of a poem, FYI.
In the same program The Pope was depicted as a demented old man that had shitted his robe…as far as I understand, The Pope is also a head of state, namely The Vatican. And not to mention, the leader of a billion or so Catholics…who could be very offended but as good Christians behave and keep their rage inside not burning any cars or killing some innocent people or threatening other countries.
I wonder why Merkel is not defending this old and important small state? Could it be wrong religion? Politics? Yeah, yeah…we all know the answer to that.
I couldn’t agree more with that you either have the freedom of speech or you don’t. If you start limiting it with what someone sees as distasteful or hurting ones feelings, there will be no end to it. Someone will always be offended.
Notice that the Vaticam is not taking any refugees on thier soil. Are the selling off any of their adsets to support the refugees? All we have is the pope telling us what we have to do. Just anothwr mouth-piece-of-state.
If I am not mistaken, the Vatican took twelve. am I wrong?
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_REL_POPE_MIGRANTS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-04-16-08-55-11
Why twelve? Probably for numerical symbolism, but possibly because it is two families, or one extended family.
In France humorists and so called “dissidents” regularly get harassed / fined / arrested and sued. One of them has racked over 30K euros in fines. It looks like Germany is following the same path.
Europe is the new USSR, a corrupt islamic dictatorship like Turkey will fit right in.
In France humorists and so called “dissidents” are harassed / fined / arrested and sued for nothing else than speaking their mind. One of them has racked over 30K Euros in fines. It seems Germany is going down the same path…
Europe is the new USSR a poster child for what happens when cultural Marxism takes over.
As far as freedoms go, a corrupt islamist dictatorship like Turkey will fit right in.
Mish, is there still a price on your head in France? Wasn’t that because you mentioned an uncomfortable truth?
I’m honestly surprised at your opinion about the rule of law not public opinion, also echoed by several commenters.
The second paragraph in the material you quoted says, quite clearly, that:
> [Merkel] also said Germany would abolish article 103 of its criminal code which makes it a crime to insult a foreign head of state and which paved the way for Mr Erdogan to request that the TV star be prosecuted.
If we allow public opinion to dictate which violations of the law should be prosecuted and which should not, is that not more worrying in terms of “rule of law”, which should be one of the central tenets in a democracy?
In my opinion, the right thing to do is conduct a criminal investigation based on the existing law (because it was in effect at the time of the supposed crime), possibly ending with a token punishment or more recent precedent showing that the act was in fact not illegal according to legal practice, as well as starting a political process to abolishing the law in question. Which, barring the fact that we don’t yet know anything about the outcome of the legal process, seems to be exactly what’s happening.
If a law has become outdated, it should be abolished, not ignored like it has been but remaining and possible to invoke when it happens to be convenient for somebody — which risks leading to *precisely* the kind of situation this article describes.
Because what is not fair can not be the law either. One here didn’t understand my point that when freedoms are taken away, we will all suffer. Any state is a mechanism of violence. It’s only reason to exist is the trust placed upon it to protect the citizens from chaos and violence inflicted by disorder and anarchy. When that trust is lost, the state has no justification to its existence.
Many fear that all this will lead to corporatism but I think what we will get is fascism. In the style of Mussolini or Franco. Take your pick.
Many seem to fail understanding that democratic system can only exist when large personal liberties and right to make a living without too much limitations are possible. Take away liberties and earning a freely chosen occupation and what we get is fascism.
Those waving a red card at this comedian fail to notice that people like him are invaluable saying out loud things that don’t please our politicians. Our politicians are nothing but dictators in democratic sheep clothing. They have to be kept under check and balances – something that is not happening now.
Don’t forget that Hillary knowingly lied and blamed the Benghazi terrorist uprising and the ambassador’s murder on an L.A. film producer then concocted a reason to have him jailed.
And she’s the frontrunner dem nominee for the White House.
Thanks for the oh so true reminder!
“Ms Merkel said Turkey was a Nato ally that was seeking EU membership and as a “close partner” was due “respect”.”
Turkey may be due respect. Out of millions of Turks, you’d think at least some of them were worthy of some.
As for Erdogan and his government, like all governments; the Somalis figured out how to show them the proper respect, back in the early 90s. The rest of the world would do well to study and learn.
Merkel is a FASCIST … !!!
Merkel should be IMPEACHED asap.
Way to go, Merkel! Roll over and acquiesce like a good little filthy European dog that most of the ME countries believe you to be. What a wonderful way to show them that you really know how to stand up for your fellow countrymen, and core values of freedom.
Wow, just unbelievably wow.
Merkel should wear a burka to work each morning.
Why do the germans put up with it?
Nostalgia. Like Merkel, many are from East Germany and no doubt miss the good old days of the Communist state when the leader could exercise full dictatorial power backed up by the Stasi secret police.
I bet the 1920s’ repressive Wiemar Republic laws and 1930s Nazi era laws have never been repealed, and could also be trotted out. This is a good opening for the neo-Nazis; they wouldn’t need any new laws to restore the 3rd Reich to Germany. Maybe Yats and his Ukrainian buddies should consider taking up residence in Germany’s political system.
Islamization works like this: the letter of Law for us and the letter of Koran for them.
German television channel ZDF (2) stands up for the show and satirical poem. They say they will go as high as it takes to protect the freedom of speech. Merkel must be furious.
http://www.faz.net/aktuell/feuilleton/medien/satire-streit-zdf-wir-gehen-mit-boehmermann-durch-alle-instanzen-14181779.html
samijr: Good to hear!
One can’t help but wonder of Erdagon has some serious dirt on Merkel for her to throw her own country and people under a moving bus. 80% are pissed at her about this, and she blithely continues down the destructive path of crying uncle every time Turkey’s dictator demands it. Unbelievable.
Reblogged this on John Barleycorn and commented:
No free speech
Merkel will let it be decided by the courts, and the courts will side with Böhmermann. Erdogan will later wish he would have just let the issue slide, as he will be the ultimate loser from it. Merkel will let the German Courts give him a lesson in free speech. The satire was scripted in that Böhmermann reiterated with breaks in the “poem”, that if one said such things, it would be a problem. He was using his poem as an example of what not to say. Basically he was saying, “if you said this, it would be a problem”.
He did a video of Varoufakis and the “finger”.
As time goes on, the disconnect between EU leaders and “the people” becomes wider and harder to disguise with propaganda. So what I want to know is, who is paying Merkel et al and what is their goal? Same could be asked in the U.S. btw. All the espoused ideals of diversity and so on are obviously meant to conceal what’s actually going on.
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