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Germany To Prosecute Comedian For The Crime Of Making Fun Of Turkish PM Erdogan

WildCat

NWO Master Conspirator
WildCat
Joined
Mar 23, 2003
Messages
59,856
An absolutely disgusting development:
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has cleared the way for the prosecution of German comedian Jan Böhmermann, whose poem mocking Turkey's president has become the centerpiece of a clash between Germany's free-speech traditions and the government's efforts to safeguard its important relations with Turkey.

In a press conference Friday, Merkel emphasized that it will now be up to German courts to decide whether Böhmermann is guilty of insulting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

"In a country under the rule of law it is not up to the government to decide," Merkel said. "Prosecutors and courts should weight personal rights against the freedom of press and art."
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I'm not sure what personal rights can exist at all when a person can be prosecuted for insulting a politician.

This is reminiscent of the DDR. What next for Germany, bringing back the Stasi?

If Europe once again descends into fascism and/or totalitarianism it will be under the guise of protecting the "right" to not be offended.
 
WildCat said:
An absolutely disgusting development:

I'm not sure what personal rights can exist at all when a person can be prosecuted for insulting a politician.

This is reminiscent of the DDR. What next for Germany, bringing back the Stasi?

If Europe once again descends into fascism and/or totalitarianism it will be under the guise of protecting the "right" to not be offended.
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No doubt everyone who told us free speech is doing fine in the uk will soon be along to do the same here.
 
Reading the article it appears there is an actual German law against insulting heads of state. Merkel is quite correct to say it should be the courts and not her that decide if someone has broken the law.

She also said she was going to work to repeal the law in question.

I can't see how she can be criticised at all for this?
 
icerat said:
Reading the article it appears there is an actual German law against insulting heads of state. Merkel is quite correct to say it should be the courts and not her that decide if someone has broken the law.

She also said she was going to work to repeal the law in question.

I can't see how she can be criticised at all for this?
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Want to bet the law doesn't get repealed, and instead we will see increased enforcement of it?
 
Giz said:
No doubt everyone who told us free speech is doing fine in the uk will soon be along to do the same here.
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:rolleyes: Free speech is doing fine in the UK. I have no idea about Germany, but hopefully this will be a high profile case in both Germany and Turkey, and will be laughed out of court. This would have the merit of keeping German/ Turkish relations stable at a seriously important time due to the fact of having taken the case forward in the first place, but showing that the freedom to mock politicians is one which is well respected in the West. I haven't the foggiest why Germany would have such a stupid law on its books in the first place.
 
welshdean said:
What!
Did you expect all of the members from western europe would stand by and watch you tell half truths and outright lies?
Really?
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What half-truth or lie was presented in the OP? Germany is prosecuting a comedian because he insulted the Turkish PM in a poem. Do you deny that?
 
Repealing any law can take a long time, even when it's a blindingly stupid relic like this one. I'd guess 1-1 within one year, 1-4 within 2 years.

I'll also guess that if it goes to trial (big if) and he's found guilty (even bigger if) he'll get a nominal fine. €1 or something.
 
GlennB said:
Repealing any law can take a long time, even when it's a blindingly stupid relic like this one. I'd guess 1-1 within one year, 1-4 within 2 years.

I'll also guess that if it goes to trial (big if) and he's found guilty (even bigger if) he'll get a nominal fine. €1 or something.
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In cases like this the prosecution is the punishment. A one euro fine, but 20,000 in legal fees is hardly something to sneeze at. Plus the time spent preparing for trial and in court. Now just shut your trap and don't insult the despicable Turkish PM or we'll make your life miserable!
 
WildCat said:
Don't back off now! How long before you bet the law is repealed?
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You're the one that offered the bet. I was just investigating the terms to check if it was worth the value.

I'd need to do some investigation into the German legal system before I was able to make any bold pronouncements. You seem to already have that info, given your offer of a wager.

To be clear, I'm not actually going to put any money down, even if you gave me a 10 century window, I was just wondering how certain you were in your bet - how you'd assessed the odds and if you'd, perhaps, got it wrong.
 
Would have thought that law was in breach of the convention and the German constitution. Anyone from Germany or with knowledge of this law provide some background to this. Is it a relic of past times or is it modern legislation?
 
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