Germany Mulling Turkey's Demand to Prosecute Comic

(BERLIN) — Germany is considering a request from Turkey to prosecute a TV comedian who wrote a crude poem about the Turkish president, Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman said Monday.

The request poses an awkward choice for the German leader as she relies on Turkey to reduce the influx of migrants to Europe.

Turkey sent a diplomatic note making "a formal request for criminal prosecution" of comedian Jan Boehmermann, Merkel spokesman Steffen Seibert said.