Erdoğan’s Attorney: We’ll Object Against Verdict of Non-Prosecution on Böhmermann

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Comedian Jan Böhmermann has said he felt relieved and pleased with the verdict of non-prosecution ruled in the lawsuit filed in Germany on the grounds of defaming President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Böhmermann criticized government’s acts against artists, journalists and dissidents.

Erdoğan’s attorney declared that he will counter appeal against the verdict, according to a report by Deutsche Welle.

Mainz Prosecution Office had ruled non-prosecution on Böhmermann.

Stating that a policy advocating freedom of expression and art strongly will have “the power to laugh off”, Böhmermann underlined that if a joke can lead to a state crisis, that is not a problem related to that joke but state.  

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 into Jan Böhmerman on charges of “insulting representatives or organs of foreign states” demanding three years of imprisonment.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had personally filed a complaint against Jan Böhmermann who has presented his satirizing poem against Erdoğan including racist and sexist expressions on air on the German public-service TV Channel ZDF.  

President Erdoğan had attempted to sue Mathias Döpfner, the manager of Axel Springer which is one of the biggest media groups, for supporting Böhmermann but it was turned down. (YY/TK)