Competion ... And Merkel Delivers A Hammer Blow For Free Speech

[-Talbot-]

I don't think this story of Jan Böhmermann has been covered, apologies if it has.


http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/04/introducing-the-president-erdogan-offensive-poetry-competition/

//What happened next happened in swift order. First of all the Turks complained to their German counterparts. Within a few days the programme had been pulled. A few more days and it was whitewashed out of existence altogether. In the meantime Mr Böhmermann himself was forced to go under police protection. The worst blow then came late last week when Chancellor Merkel allowed the prosecution of Mr Böhmermann to go ahead in Germany.//


She must have hated having to attend this ...
http://lvdn.rosselcdn.net/sites/default/files/imagecache/vdn_photo_principale_article/articles/ophotos/20150112/1114093354_B974495517Z.1_20150112075828_000_G133P4FDL.2-0.jpg

[naomi24]

Scary!!

[-Talbot-]

If anyone is going to convince me vote to leave the EU it won't be Boris, Gove or Farage ... it will be Merkel.

[naomi24]

I agree. That truly is appalling.

[douglas9401]

You can take the Germans out of fascist control freakery but you can't........

[TheChair]

If you bothered to do bit of fact checking, you'd know that she didn't so much allow the prosecution to go ahead, as discover that, under German law, she doesn't have the power to forbid it.

[Old_Geezer]

Isn't the government responsible for the laws ? Whether she was 'painted into a corner' or not, the idea that this would go to court suggests there is a flaw in their legal system.

[TheChair]

" the idea that this would go to court suggests there is a flaw in their legal system."
Yes, one that Merkel has said she will try to correct.
Fortunately the UK has a completely flawless legal system.

[Old_Geezer]

Nothing is faultless, but some are based on better foundations than others. Do you think this idea of, you are not allowed to do it until we say so, would occur here ?

[cassa333]

I'm no good at poetry or Limericks otherwise I would enter lol

[naomi24]

TheChair, // Yes, one that Merkel has said she will try to correct.//

I assume that was in relation to this case. Where did she say that?

[jourdain2]

From what I've read, it seems that this law (lese majesty) that Merkel is using is on the list for being repealed by Germany. What I find terrifying is that the rest of the EU leadership is backing her.

I hope that every comedian in Europe will now either include this limerick in their act (not to my taste, but still), or write their own on the samesubject and flood the airwaves in support of Herr B.

[Jackdaw33]

Does this mean I can no longer sing:

♫Hitler has only got one ball...♫

[jourdain2]

Probably, Jackdaw. :o(

[Jackdaw33]

Good job he didn't make a joke about Mohammed or he's be lying on a slab in the morgue right now.

[-Talbot-]

TheChair
If you bothered to do bit of fact checking, you'd know that she didn't so much allow the prosecution to go ahead, as discover that, under German law, she doesn't have the power to forbid it.


oh yeah, I'm sure this is the first time ever that this occurrence has arisen in Germany.
The UK is positively *** no more programs like Spitting Image I guess. I hope you look forward to the moribund existence that it looks like we will have pressed upon us, The Chair.

[-Talbot-]

Too bloody right you did ... http://www.france24.com/en/20160422-merkel-admits-error-erdogan-satire-row?ns_campaign=reseaux_sociaux&ns_source=twitter&ns_mchannel=social&ns_linkname=editorial&aef_campaign_ref=partage_aef&;aef_campaign_date=2016-04-22&dlvrit=66745