Germany and EU reject protests over song mocking Erdogan

Germany and EU reject protests over song mocking Erdogan Germany and the EU have dismissed Turkish protests over a song aired on German television mocking President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The song, aired two weeks ago on regional broadcaster NDR's extra3 show, takes aim at Mr Erdogan's authoritarian style while also making fun of some of his physical characteristics. Turkey last week summoned the German envoy to demand the song be withdrawn. But both Germany and the EU have insisted press freedom is inviolable. In the song, Mr Erdogan is criticised on a range of issues ranging from the imprisonment of journalists to heavy-handed treatment of protesters including women ("equal rights for women - they are beaten up equally"). "When a journalist writes a piece that Erdogan doesn't like, he quickly ends up in jail, newspaper offices closed down, he doesn't think twice, with tear gas and water cannons he is riding through the night," say some of the lyrics.

Date: April 2, 2016, 10:30 am

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