Story highlights German law prohibits insulting representatives of foreign countries

Angela Merkel: German government will examine Turkey's complaint closely

Investigation comes as Germany seeks Turkey's help stemming migrant crisis

(CNN) German Chancellor Angela Merkel has authorized a criminal investigation into whether comedian Jan Böhmermann broke the law when he read a satirical poem about Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on German television.

Erdogan has complained that the poem was a smear -- and one that violated an obscure German law against insulting representatives of foreign countries.

Whether the comedian will be charged will be decided by a prosecutor. But under this law, no prosecution could have even been considered without the approval of the government.

In a news conference, Merkel acknowledged there had been differences of opinion within her coalition government.

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