2

I wrote a poem laughing at Recep Tayyip Erdogan as part of a contest for the Spectator magazine. Only when they published the winner I realised someone in Germany is being prosecuted for doing the same.

What charges am I facing? I live in Scotland.

The dude
  • 281
  • 2
  • 8

1 Answers1

4

Jan Böhmermann faces prosecution in Germany for violating their penal code section 103 as discussed here. Lèse-majesté is not a crime in the UK, though apparently it was a common law crime in Scotland until 2010 (though not prosecuted since 1715). Though there is always the possibility of a defamation lawsuit, depending on what you say.

Community
  • 1
user6726
  • 214,947
  • 11
  • 343
  • 576
  • 1
    This is fine if he stays in Scotland. As you say, it is a crime in Germany and (possibly) Turkey. If he travels to those countries he could be charged. – Dale M Sep 28 '16 at 00:18
  • It would also depend on what exactly was said. – gnasher729 Oct 10 '16 at 12:38