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Europe

Satire spat: Germany tells Turkey free speech not negotiable

Associated Press
Published | Updated

BERLIN – Germany has rebuffed Turkey's complaint about a satirical song that angered Ankara, saying the clip is covered by freedom of speech.

Turkey's Foreign Ministry summoned the German ambassador to demand the song's removal from the website of German public broadcaster ARD.

The clip pokes fun at Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan while highlighting Turkey's crackdown on journalists and the opposition.

A Foreign Ministry spokeswoman says German diplomats told their Turkish counterparts Tuesday there's no chance the government will intervene over the song.

Sawsan Chebli said Wednesday that "Germany's position on freedom of the press and expression isn't negotiable."

Chebli said German ambassador Martin Erdmann also attended the start of the trial last week of two Turkish opposition journalists "to send a signal" about press freedom and judicial independence.