Ahead of His Time

The German government has granted a Turkish request to allow the possible prosecution of a TV comedian who wrote a crude poem about Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, [which he read on Germany's ZDF television two weeks ago] Chancellor Angela Merkel said.

Ankara has demanded to have comedian Jan Boehmermann prosecuted for insulting a foreign head of state.

Under a section of Germany's criminal code, the government has to authorize prosecutors to pursue a case against the comedian.

[...]

In March, Ankara reportedly pressured Berlin into removing a satirical clip aired by public broadcaster NDR, which criticized the president for his crackdown on freedom of speech, as well as the alleged shuffling of electorate votes and cracking down on women.

[...]

"There were different opinions between the coalition partners - the conservatives and the SPD (Social Democrats)," Merkel added.

The chancellor went on to stress that it "means neither a prejudgment of the person affected nor a decision about the limits of freedom of art, the press and opinion."

Merkel said that the government intends to repeal the law, effective in 2018.

  RT

Really? No prejudgment?  I bet the Turkish government is figuring on a guilty verdict.

And the German government intends to repeal the law, effective in 2018. WTF? Boehmermann should have waited a couple years to make that joke.

Or does repealing the law only mean that Turkey could file the charges without the approval of the German government? Wonder what the punishment is? Death? If the German government has given its approval to bring the action, does that mean they are bound to hand over the person so charged?

Too many questions, not enough information, not willing to research.

Good luck Mr. Boehmermann.