Two Courts Throw Out Turkish President's Bid To Obtain An Injunction Against German Media Boss

Last month, Techdirt noted that the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip ErdoAan, had broadened his assault on free speech in Germany with even more ridiculous actions. As well as demanding that the German comedian Jan Bihmermann should be punished for an admittedly rather coarse satirical poem, ErdoAan went on to seek an injunction against the German media boss Mathias Dipfner for daring to say he laughed out loud when he read the ditty in question. Fortunately, not just one but two German courts have now (politely) told the Turkish president what he can do with his request, as EurActiv reports:

After failing to get an injunction from a lower court last month, ErdoAan also lost an appeal before the higher regional court in the western German city of Cologne.

The judges said they considered Doepfner's letter of support "a permissible expression of opinion as protected under Article 5" of Germany's constitution, the court said in a statement.

Unfortunately, that's not the end of the affair. First, as EurActiv notes:

ErdoAan could still seek recourse before Germany's top tribunal, the Federal Constitutional Court.

Knowing ErdoAan, that remains a distinct possibility. Secondly, and more seriously, the main case involving Bihmermann has not been heard yet. And there it's not a matter of an injunction, but of time behind bars.

Follow me @glynmoody on Twitter or identi.ca, and +glynmoody on Google+

Permalink | Comments | Email This Story