German Justice Minister Heiko Maas has called on Chancellor Angela Merkel to talk openly about freedom of speech during her visit to Turkey. The visit is due, however, to focus on refugees.
In an interview published in German newspaper “Die Welt” on Saturday, Justice Minister Heiko Maas said, “In the future, we need to address the postulates of the rule of law, separation of powers and pluralism with regard to Turkey in no uncertain terms at all levels,” AFP reported.
“Opinion, art and freedom of the press are not negotiable in a state of law and we advocate that our partners ensure this as much as we do,” he said.
Maas’ comments on Saturday come amid the ongoing scandal in Germany regarding the comedian Jan Bohmermann’s poem targeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Turkish leader has since sued the German satirist for defamation.
Paragraph 103 of Germany’s penal code protects foreign heads of state from insult and was evoked by Berlin as justification for taking the proceedings forward.
The case has also sparked a fierce debate on free speech in Germany, as well as anger over Berlin’s decision to give the investigation a green light. If convicted, Bohmermann, who has suspended his show for the time being, could face up to five years in prison. Ahead of her trip to Turkey, Merkel insisted on Friday that freedom of expression was important to her.
“It will continue to be important to me and that guides me in all talks,” the chancellor added.
A meeting between Merkel and Erdogan is not scheduled for during her visit, but the chancellor said “all issues would be mentioned during the conversation with the Turkish prime minister” when she meets with Turkish Premier Ahmet Davutoglu on Saturday.
Courageous Refugee Policy
Merkel is due to visit a refugee camp close to the Syrian border, just a day before meeting with US President Barack Obama at the Hannover trade fair in central Germany. Ahead of his visit, Obama praised Merkel for her widely contested refugee policy.
The stance was “courageous”—”just like many Germans”, Obama said in the Saturday edition of German newspaper “Bild,” adding that Merkel showed “true political and moral leadership”.
One cannot “just shut the door on fellow human beings when they’re in such great need,” the US president added. “That would be a betrayal of our values.”
Merkel had recognized “that there must be an orderly process to accommodate newcomers and integrate them into German society”, Obama said, adding that the recent agreement between the EU and Turkey should be a step toward a more equal distribution of responsibility across Europe.
Turkey is a key European Union partner when it comes to curbing the migration of asylum seekers trying to reach Europe, mainly fleeing from conflict and poverty in the Middle East and Africa.
