‘Erdoğan Offensive Poetry Competition’ in England

Click here to read the article in Turkish / Haberin Türkçesi için buraya tıklayın

Douglas Murray from the Spectator Magazine published in England has launched “Erdoğan Offensive Poetry Competition”.

Murray has reportedly picked this method to protest President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan making complaint against comedian Jan Böhmermann, and German Chancellor, Angela Merkel who has permitted a suit to be brought against the comedian.

According to the news in BBC Türkçe (BBC Turkish), Murray announcing on his latest blog article that he has launched “Erdoğan Offensive Poetry Competition” asked those willing to join the competition to send their limericks to [email protected].

Murray describing Erdoğan as “despot” asked his readers to write limericks as “filthy and insulting as possible”.

Murray said the winner of the competition will be announced before June 23.

No punishment for those insulting the Queen or Prime Minister

England’s Ambassador to Ankara, Richard Moore in his statement he made on CNN Türk TV channel said those insulting the Queen or Prime Minister are not punished.

What had happened?

After Ambassador of Germany being summoned to Ministry of Foreign Affairs due to the song “Erdowie, Erdowo, Erdowahn” satirizing Erdoğan broadcasted on the TV Programme Extra 3 on the German Channel NDR, also satirist Jan Böhmermann had presented a racist and sexist poem addressed to Erdoğan on his satire show on the German public TV ZDF.

The poem which included sexist and racist expressions had become an issue between the two countries and was banned from broadcast. Also investigation was launched on April 7 into Jan Böhmerman on charges of “insulting representatives or organs of foreign states” demanding three years of imprisonment. 

Erdoğan made a complaint against Böhmermann on April 12.

Merkel announced on April 15 that she will permit jurisdiction to try Böhmermann.  (EA/TK)