Germany and EU reject protests over song mocking Erdogan

Turkey summoned Germany's ambassador in late March 2016 over a song aired on German television mocking president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The song took aim at Mr Erdogan's authoritarian style while also making fun of some of his physical characteristics.

Germany and the European Union both dismissed Turkish protests, insisting that press freedom was an inviolable European value.

Subsequently, Germany satirist Jan Böhmermann fueled the issue in April 2016 by deliberately insulting President Erdogan in a poem read out on his weekly tv show. The Turkish President launched an official complaint to the German government under a little-used law banning insults against foreign heads of state.

On the 15 April 2016 it was announced that Germany had accepted a request from Turkey to seek the prosecution of the German comedian. It was stressed that was not a decision about the merits of the prosecution’s case against Böhmermann.

• Primary Source

EurActiv, 30.03.16: Juncker raps Erdogan for jumping the gun over German satirical song http://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/juncker-raps-erdogan-for-jumping-the-gun-over-german-satirical-song/

The Guardian, 29.03.16: Turkey 'demands deletion' of German video mocking Erdoğan http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/29/turkey-german-video-mocking-president-recep-tayyip-erdogan

The Local.de, 30.03.16: Germany slams Turkey's call to ban satire video http://www.thelocal.de/20160330/germany-fights-back-against-turkeys-call-to-ban-satire-video

The Local.de, 29.03.16: Watch the video Turkey wants banned from Germany http://www.thelocal.de/20160329/erdogan-german-ambassador-satire

Hürriyet Daily News, 30.03.16: Germany says press freedom non-negotiable in talks with Turkey http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/germany-says-press-freedom-non-negotiable-in-talks-with-turkey.aspx?pageID=238&nID=97120&NewsCatID=339

The New York Times, 30.03.16: Erdogan’s Attempt to Suppress German Satire Has the Opposite Effect http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/31/world/europe/recep-tayyip-erdogan-turkey-suppress-german-satire.html

Deutsche Welle, 29.03.16: Report: Turkey summons German ambassador over satirical song http://dw.com/p/1IL4f

Deutsche Welle, 30.03.16: EU, Steinmeier criticize Turkey over Erdogan satire row http://dw.com/p/1IMR8

Deutsche Welle, 30.03.16: Germany unimpressed by 'anti-Erdogan' song outrage http://dw.com/p/1ILXd

EUObserver, 30.03.16: Juncker says Erdogan can't silence EU media https://euobserver.com/foreign/132844

Euronews, 30.03.16: EU wades into Erdogan satirical song spat http://www.euronews.com/2016/03/30/eu-wades-into-erodgan-satirical-song-spat/

Politico, 30.03.16: Germany defends Erdoğan satire http://www.politico.eu/article/germany-defends-erdogan-satire/

EUObserver, 01.04.16: EU officials targeting dictators with satire https://euobserver.com/foreign/132871

Politico, 07.04.16: German comedian under investigation for mocking Erdoğan http://www.politico.eu/article/german-comedian-jan-bohmermanunder-investigation-for-mocking-erdogan/

EurActiv, 12.04.16: Merkel stresses free speech in Germany-Turkey satire spat http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/merkel-stresses-free-speech-in-germany-turkey-satire-spat/

EUObserver, 13.04.16: Merkel in tight spot over anti-Erdogan comedian https://euobserver.com/foreign/133031

Carnegie Europe: Strategic Europe, 14.04.16: Erdoğan Brings His Media Policies to Germany http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/?fa=63329

Deutsche Welle, 13.04.16: Munich lawyer: Erdogan wants full legal recourse http://dw.com/p/1IUNy

Spiegel Online International, 12.04.16: Satire on Trial: Erdogan's Demand for Legal Action Puts Merkel in a Bind http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/turkey-files-a-criminal-complaint-against-a-german-tv-comedian-a-1086794.html

Spiegel Online International, 12.04.16: [Commentary]: Insulting Erdogan: Merkel Falls Flat over a Satirical Poem http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/the-erdogan-affair-poses-serious-threat-to-merkel-power-a-1086813.html

The Local.de, 14.04.16: Legal opinion finds Erodgan 'smear poem' not criminal http://www.thelocal.de/20160414/legal-opinion-finds-erodgan-smear-poem-not-criminal

The Local.de, 15.04.16: Merkel allows Erdogan's case against TV host to go ahead http://www.thelocal.de/20160415/merkel-allows-erdogans-case-against-tv-host-to-go-ahead

Deutsche Welle, 15.04.16: WorldLink: Böhmermann, Erdogan and Merkel http://dw.com/p/1IWfP

Euro|Topics: Debates, April 2016: Fresh controversy in satire row with Ankara http://www.eurotopics.net/en/156468/fresh-controversy-in-satire-row-with-ankara

EurActiv, 15.04.16: Germany will prosecute comedian who mocked Turkish president http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/germany-will-prosecute-comedian-who-mocked-turkish-president/

EurActiv, 18.04.16: Majority of Germans disapprove Merkel’s decision to allow prosecution of comedian http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/majority-of-germans-disapprove-merkels-decision-to-allow-prosecution-of-comedian/

Euro|Topics: Debates, April 2016: The Böhmermann case: Did Merkel make the right decision? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/157599/the-boehmermann-case-did-merkel-make-the-right-decision

Germany: Federal Government: News, 15.04.16: Jan Böhmermann’s poem. German government allows inquiry https://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/EN/Artikel/2016/04_en/2016-04-15-bundesregierung-entscheidung-boehmermann_en.html

Spiegel Online International, 15.04.16: Erdogan and the Satirist: Inside Merkel's Comedy Conundrum http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/germany-green-lights-legal-case-against-erdogan-critical-comic-a-1087445.html

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