This archaic law is quite funny. No, really. I hear the German parliament is in a hurry to eliminate it – 2 weeks! – but not soon enough! Erdogan has sounded his displeasure and is insisting Merkel abide by it! Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. What-to-do-what-to-do: Strike a deal with Turkey over migrants and strike a blow against freedom of expression, or..piss-off Erdogan by standing up for freedom of expression and kiss any deal with Turkey goodbye?
I reckon Merkel will allow it go to trial and Jan Böhmermann will be acquitted, at worst, fined. I think Jan’s off Merkel’s Christmas list this year.
I’m astonished this isn’t getting ,more English-language media interest: It’s all over the German-speaking press (well, at least on the Austrian news)
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
This archaic law is quite funny. No, really. I hear the German parliament is in a hurry to eliminate it – 2 weeks! – but not soon enough! Erdogan has sounded his displeasure and is insisting Merkel abide by it! Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. What-to-do-what-to-do: Strike a deal with Turkey over migrants and strike a blow against freedom of expression, or..piss-off Erdogan by standing up for freedom of expression and kiss any deal with Turkey goodbye?
I reckon Merkel will allow it go to trial and Jan Böhmermann will be acquitted, at worst, fined. I think Jan’s off Merkel’s Christmas list this year.