Turkish President Accuses German Satirist Defamation over Erdogan Poem

By

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has started a legal action against the German TV comic, Jan Boehmermann over the contentious Erdogan poem. Erdogan is accusing Boehmermann of defamation. According to the Turkish authorities, the satirist went beyond his sketch by insulting the Turkish president of rough jokes.

As reported by Neurope, Erdogan filed a legal complaint in the city of Mainz after the Erdogan poem was aired in a comic TV sketch at the ZDF channel on March 31. After the Turkish government asked the humorist to be investigated, the Turkish Foreign Ministry also requested the German Ambassador to Turkey, Martin Erdmann to stop the circulation of an NDR video that allegedly mocks Erdogan. After the Erdogan poem, Boehmermann was accused of "crime against humanity" by the Turkish government.

Meanwhile, Turkish Chancellor, Angela Merkel, is in the midst of tension after the Turkish government personally asked Boehmermanno be prosecuted over the Erdogan poem. However, she insisted that she wouldn't compromise on democratic principles to safeguard the EU's refugee deal, The Guardian claims.

"I want to stress again what was stressed yesterday - we have the fundamental values in the constitution and that includes article 5, which is the freedom of opinion, freedom of science and of course, the freedom of art," she said when asked about a complaint filed by Tayyip Erdoğan against Jan Böhmermann on Monday.

According to BBC, Boehmermann, regarded as Germany's most incisive satirist, deliberately included material in the Erdogan poem that violated German laws on freedom of speech. The Erdogan poem particularly mentioned the suppression of Turkish minorities and references on sex with sheep and goats. According to German Criminal Code under paragraph 3, insulting organs or representatives of foreign states could send someone to up to five years in prison.

Boehmermann is presently placed under police protection after he and his family have been receiving threats due to the Erdogan poem. According to reports, the satirist is receiving threats from supporters of the Turkish president. The German prosecutors are still investigating whether Boehmermann violated a law when he performed the Erdogan poem.

© 2025 Lawyer Herald All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

Join the Discussion
More Law & Society
Mayor Eric Adams' Veto on Solitary Confinement and Expanded Police Reporting Faces City Council's Opposition

Prosecutor Claims Only a 'Fool' or 'Coward' Would Dismiss Eric Adams' Charges in Scathing Resignation Letter

Alabama Representative Rolanda Hollis (D)

Alabama Lawmaker Proposes Pregnant Women Convicted of Crimes Shouldn't Be Jailed Until Baby is Born

Aaron Craig Gleason

Christian School Teacher and Conservative Writer Who Accused LGBTQ People of 'Grooming' Kids Charged with Molesting Student

Demetrius Frazier

Last Meal of Alabama Death Row Inmate Executed By Nitrogen Gas Revealed

Real Time Analytics