Investigation into Böhmermann over Poem Satirizing Erdoğan

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Investigation has been launched into Jan Böhmerman for his poem about President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan broadcasted on the German TV channel ZDF.

Böhmemann could be sentenced to 3 years of prison.

According to the report of Deutsche Welle, Gerd Deutschler, Prosecution Spokesperson has announced that the investigation was launched on charges of “insulting representatives or organs of foreign states”.

Poem was banned from Broadcast

Böhmermann had read his poem satirizing Erdoğan on the programme “Neo Magazin Royale”. The poem which included sexist and racist expressions had become an issue between the two countries. German Chancellor Angela Merkel had seen Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu concerning the issue and had said that the poem was “intentionally hurtful”.

The respective poem has been banned from broadcast over the German Ambassador being summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs due to another satirical video criticizing Erdoğan on violations of freedom of expression broadcasted on the German TV channel NRD. (EA/DG)

* Photograph; Spiegel