Merkel Feels Heat From Backing Prosecution of Erdogan Satirist
- Decision draws rebukes from human rights group, coalition ally
- German satirist read lewd poem lampooning Turkish president
German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives to address the press on April 15, 2016 at the Chancellery in Berlin.
Photographer: John Macougall/AFP via Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Chancellor Angela Merkel, already weakened by Europe’s refugee crisis, came under fire over the weekend for granting a Turkish request to prosecute a German satirist who derided President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Merkel took criticism from Germany’s Turkish community, opposition leaders, a journalist group and her junior coalition partner after deciding to leave the legal fate of comedian Jan Boehmermann in the hands of the country’s courts. Two-thirds of Germans surveyed said her decision was wrong, Bild am Sonntag reported Sunday.