21.01.2025 22:40
The leader of the Victory Party, Ümit Özdağ, was arrested on charges of "inciting the public to hatred and hostility" as part of an investigation against him. At the moment the decision was announced, Independent Member of Parliament Cemal Enginyurt, who was a guest on a live television broadcast, reacted strongly to Özdağ's arrest. Enginyurt said, "Damn this kind of law, what kind of understanding is this? Arrest us all, come on. Arrest me too."
On January 19, a probe was launched regarding the statements made by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during the party's provincial chairpersons' consultation meeting organized by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. Ümit Özdağ, the Chairman of the Victory Party, who was detained in this investigation, has completed his procedures at the Istanbul Courthouse. After his statement to the prosecutor's office, Ümit Özdağ was brought before the duty magistrate and was arrested for "publicly inciting hatred and hostility."
HE LOST HIS TEMPER ON LIVE BROADCAST: ARREST ME TOO
At the moment the decision was announced, Independent MP Cemal Enginyurt, who was a guest on a television live broadcast, reacted strongly to Özdağ's arrest. Enginyurt used the following statements regarding the issue: "Shame on this justice, this law... Shame on the mentality that arrests the chairman of a party. We no longer have the right to live in this country, there is no democracy, no law... Damn this law, what kind of understanding is this? Arrest all of us, come. Arrest me too."
WHAT HAD HAPPENED?
A probe was initiated against Ümit Özdağ on January 19 due to his remarks directed at President Erdoğan during the party's provincial chairpersons' consultation meeting for the crime of "insulting the President." Additionally, the investigation was expanded for the crime of "inciting hatred and hostility." Özdağ, who was detained in Ankara, was brought to the Istanbul Police Department. After his procedures at the police station, Özdağ was subjected to a health check at Bakırköy Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital and was then brought to the Istanbul Courthouse. After his statement was taken by the Terror Crimes Investigation Bureau, he was referred to the duty magistrate with a request for his arrest for "inciting hatred and hostility."