"a international relations vs freedom of expression issue, but is by no means bowing to foreign powers."
the first part of the sentence really is a euphemism for what you deny in the second part.

In any case, ordinary citizens should be able to criticize their leaders or other peoples leaders no matter public relations.

There are large Turkish minorities in many key EU-countries. They have important ties with people inside Turkey. Their support is very important to maintain power in Turkey.

In order to achieve this Erdogan primarily abuses a long feud between Turks and Kurd's for outside support and instills more strict religious rules for inside support.

A totalitarian leader is weak when he looks weak. That is why they cannot deal with mockery where a leader of a more democratic country doesn't necessarily need to instill fear in order to maintain power.

Its not that difficult to make the dictator fall but its simply not in our leaders short-term interests at the moment. We should demand the right course of action of our leaders because a democratic moderate-islamic ally like turkey is worth gold in the long run.

"I dont really get the problem here."
Yet you state it in the next sentence
"We do have a law, which allows foreign leaders to complain at our goverment if they feel insulted."

"I think its better if judges make that decision then our chancelor making it."
That is a valid point.

if Trump wins this will be like thrown out the night of the election

The question is did Bush complain about the insults? I mean the situation is different in both of these cases. Making fun of Bush for his personal actions, like the massage, aren't really going to cause any issues for Bush, it won't encourage the populace in the US to protest against him (I mean I can hear the slogans "No more backrubs, no more backrubs...what do we want 'no more backrubs' when do we want them 'now!'"). From what I have read, the poem written by Jan Bohmermann was satirical and aimed at Erdogan, and so I am guess involves more than "he gives creepy massages" or something of that nature. I am very interested to see what the poem actually said before stating that this is unfair and Merkel is bowing down to a foreign head-of-state.

Was it just criticism though? In fact, wikipedia (I know, not the best source of information) said that the poem "went on to find the line between satire, which is protected by freedom of speech legislation, and "abusive criticism" (German: Schmähkritik) of a foreign state leader, which in Germany is a punishable offense" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%B6hmermann_affair).

Bohermann acknowledged "this experiment to be deliberately offensive and "forbidden", [he] went on to present a poem that not only harshly criticized Erdoğan for his human rights record, but was also liberally seasoned with profanity" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%B6hmermann_affair).

So yes, it does matter what was said, and it also matters how it was said. This issue might have had a different response if he had criticised Erdogan's human rights record in a tasteful way, then he may not be facing court. For example, the "Erdowie, Erdowo, Erdoğan" singers/show are not being prosecuted for speaking out against Erdogan.

you can find a better translation here

https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/comment … anslation/

This also contains the context, where Böhmermann states that its clearly illegal to say this.

Feel free to open a topic about it...
this one actually was about.. the poem....and is more about how freedom of speech is in danger in our western societies instead of pointing fingers at others again...

that wouldnt get published in the US but it ain't criminal

Thanks Schneipel for posting the translation and the link. I think the poem itself is pretty harsh...

"But you should be able to say almost anything you want against a public figure. Its a good counter-measure against autocracy. An autocratic leader often is too weak to stand up against something as simple as comedy."

Well thats true.. BUT!
That peom wouldnt had been this widely known if it wouldnt have been illegal here.
The few people who watch Böhmermanns show would had known it.. and thats it.
Now it appears that the whole world knows it and the damage to Erdogan is by far bigger then it would had been if there wouldnt had been all this talking about it.

Nevertheless.. that law will be gone soon. It was mostly used to protect the darling of the west, the shah of persia, against that big exile opposition we had here in germany.

"In fact I dislike most of what this guy makes"

Well the "varoufake" was quiete genius, but i dislike most of his other stuff aswell.