German court grants Erdogan injunction against TV comedian

BERLIN – A German court has granted Turkey’s president an injunction against a TV comedian, ordering him not to repeat most of a crude poem he wrote about the Turkish leader.

The Hamburg state court ruled Tuesday that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan “doesn’t have to accept” comedian Jan Boehermann repeating large parts of the ditty in view of its “abusive and libelous content.” The court found it crossed the line between satirical criticism and pure abuse, but that a few lines of the poem were within the bounds of what is legally admissible.

The decision can be appealed.

Separately, Chancellor Angela Merkel last month granted a Turkish request for Boehmermann to be investigated on suspicion of insulting a foreign head of state. Prosecutors haven’t yet decided whether to file charges.