What a Shock for a Dictator
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Turkey last week summoned the German envoy to demand the song be withdrawn.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.
"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.
A Turkish diplomatic source told AFP news agency: "We summoned the ambassador last week to communicate our protest about the broadcast that we condemned.
"We demanded that the broadcast be removed from the air."
Such demands got short shrift from European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker, who "does not appreciate this movement of calling in the German ambassador just because of a satirical song", spokeswoman Mina Andreeva told reporters.
"He (Juncker) believes this moves Turkey further from the EU rather than closer to us," Ms Andreeva said, adding that "freedom of the press and freedom of expression... are values the EU cherishes".
A spokeswoman for the German foreign ministry said Berlin had told Ankara basic freedoms were "non-negotiable".
Turkey in the EU? - Never!
Good going.
Good going.
There are two things: "Freedom of Speech" and "Freedom to Insult." People in the west have frequently crossed the lines of controls when using this "freedom of speech" powers given them. Take for example when Danish cartoonist Kurt Westergaard drew caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad.(PBUH) which appeared at Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten. It led to massive protests worldwide. Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen described the incident as Denmark's worst international relation incident since the World War II. This was followed by the Charlie Hebdo's cartoons based again on the powers of "freedom of speech" the people of the west are said to enjoy.That too led to unhappy incidents.
There are certain positions in the world that carry respect and "freedom of speech" should not be allowed to become a "freedom to insult" in any way. The relations between India and Pakistan have always been on rough seas but the countries do not allow any one to insult each other's prime ministers or presidents or any other high-ranking officials. The relations between S Arabia and Iran are at its lowest ebb but neither of the countries insult each other's rulers or allow them to be insulted by any of their countrymen.
There is major difference between "Freedom of Speech" and "Freedom to Insult" and its time the people of the west got to realize this.
WT: You missed my point . I agree that the genocide occurred and there can be no disputing that fact .
My concern is that there is a law against expressing a personal view - no matter how idiotic or outlandish
A good example are the casualties from road accidents. They are victims of stupid idiots. Unfortunately they are NOT punished here. They just pay a handful of Riyals and then 'killu tamaam'.
And, yes, I am for punishment of stupidity. It causes too much harm to the planet and to the human kind already. If we want to survive as a species we have to punish stupidity!
The Holocaust is one of the best documented events in history. “Holocaust denial” describes attempts to negate the established facts of the Nazi genocide of European Jewry. Common denial assertions are: that the murder of six million Jews during World War II never occurred; that the Nazis had no official policy or intention to exterminate the Jews; and that the poison gas chambers in Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp never existed.
As a matter of fact, you can visit Auschwitz and turn a blind eye. You can also say gravity doesn't exist and angels press you to the ground. In essence,you still have freedom of expression but you will be punished for infinite stupidity not for expressing your opinion!
By the way.. I am FOR freedom of speech and wouldn't want the song banned ..
Exactly, it seems like that freedom is selective for the Europeans.
I wonder if the song was mocking
Benjamin Netanyahu or Israel, would they allow it? I think they would call it anti-semitic and ban it.
There is a sort of paradox here... Mr Junker talks of free speech, yet Germany has laws againsgt Holocaust denial and overt showing of Nazi symbols