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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.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives to address the press on April 15, 2016 at the Chancellery in Berlin.

Photographer: John Macougall/AFP via Getty Images
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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.