“Honour” attacked: Erdogan files a complaint against Kubicki – because of the “sewer rat”

Created: 09/30/2022, 10:22 am

By: Florian Naumann

Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

© Armin Durgut/dpa

Recep Tayyip Erdogan has again filed criminal charges in Germany.

This time against Wolfgang Kubicki.

He doesn't see "sewer rats" as justiciable - but as "cute".

Ankara/Hamburg – Memories of the Böhmermann case are waking up: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has once again filed a complaint in Germany – this time against the eloquent FDP Bundestag Deputy Wolfgang Kubicki.

The

reports .

The reason for this is a statement by Kubicki during the campaign for the Lower Saxony elections: The liberal had described Erdogan as a "little sewer rat" in connection with his refugee policy.

The Cologne lawyer Mustafa Kaplan filed a written complaint on Thursday in Erdogan's name, the news magazine writes.

The allegations are insult and defamation.

Erdogan files a complaint against Kubicki – it's also about "honor"

The letter to the public prosecutor's office in Hildesheim states that the term "sewer rat" must be understood to mean that Erdogan is a person "who is seen as morally neglected, morally degraded and disgusting".

Kubicki is not concerned with factual criticism, but solely with defamation.

To make matters worse, the expression for Erdogan "also for religious reasons" is difficult to accept.

"A sewer rat is a small, cute, yet clever and devious creature, which is why it also appears as a protagonist in children's stories."

Wolfgang Kubicki defended his "sewer rats" quote about Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday

It is an "illegal attack on the honor of another person." Incidentally, Kubicki indirectly accused the President of using refugees as a means of exerting pressure on the West.

That is demonstrably untrue.

Of course, Kubicki sees the matter very differently – even if he does not even deny the statement.

"A sewer rat is a small, cute, yet clever and devious creature, which is why she also appears as a protagonist in children's stories ('Kalle sewer rat', 'Ratatouille')", he told the dpa on Tuesday.

"Sewer rat" dispute over Erdogan and Kubicki: FDP politician remains calm - "Germany is a constitutional state"

Kubicki also defended his statements on Turkey's refugee policy.

Erdogan has made a deal with the European Union to reduce the number of refugees that is advantageous for Turkey.

"Nevertheless, we have to see that the wave of refugees via the Balkan route is increasing again, which again poses challenges for German foreign and domestic policy," he emphasized in his statement.

also read

"Will not organize a massacre": Putin politician surprises with nuclear weapons statement

Rusty AKs and plastic bags: video to show how Russia equips new recruits

At this point, however, a medium-heavy diplomatic escalation was already under way.

Turkey also condemned Kubicki's words "strongly" on Tuesday and summoned the German ambassador.

The "unacceptable statements" are inappropriate for his office as Vice President of the German Bundestag and lack any political morality and responsibility, said the spokesman for the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Tanju Bilgic.

The German ambassador was also informed of "our strong reaction" on this issue.

According to Kubicki, the procedure does not cause any concerns.

He said on Friday: "The fact that Mr. Erdogan has had around 200,000 such procedures initiated since he took office in 2014 says it all.

In any case, I look forward to a possible legal dispute with equanimity.” In contrast to Turkey, Germany is a constitutional state in which freedom of opinion and freedom of expression have central constitutional status.

(

)

Also interesting:

Devastating conditions in Turkish refugee camps - "Living literally in the dirt"