Angela Merkel Agrees For Prosecuting German Comic Who Offended Turkish President

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has agreed to enable the prosecution of the German comedian who satirically attacked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, causing the leader to take offence. Merkel supports a law that criminalizes "insults" of people in power.

Was well-known comedian Jan Böhmermann illegal in reciting a satirical poem about Erdogan on German TV? Merkel said Friday that she is authorizing a criminal investigation into it.

On German broadcaster ZDF, Böhmermann's poem had said that he hits women, watches  child pornography and is a fan of bestiality.

Now that provoked Erdogan no end. Ever since he assumed power in 2014, he has lodged over 1,800 criminal cases against "offenders". For instance, two cartoonists published a political cartoon that got his ire.

As Germany's law prohibits people from offending higher authorities, it was created when Germany was still a monarchy, targeting anyone offending the royalty. This archaic law will be repealed in 2018.

Merkel said  that Turkey is an important partner.

"The result is, that the German government grants the right to prosecute Jan Böhmermann. I want to explain further that Turkey is a state with whom we have strong ties. There are a lot of Turkish citizen living in Germany. We have strong economic relations and our responsibility is to work together in the NATO," she said.

However, the courts and prosecutors will have the final say, she said. If convicted, Böhmermann might face up to three years in prison, or face a fine.

Merkel was slammed by a number of prominent officials. Thomas Oppermann, head of the Social Democrats, Merkel's partner in the coalition government, disagreed with her views.

"I think this decision is wrong. Criminal proceedings against satire for 'insulting a majesty' do not fit in with modern Germany," he said.