22.01.2025 23:31
Ümit Özdağ, the leader of the Victory Party, who was arrested for "openly inciting the public to hatred and enmity," sent a letter to a television program from prison. In his letter, Özdağ shared details of his experience, stating that he was arrested in a setup similar to those in the Ergenekon and Balyoz cases.
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Victory Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ was arrested for the crime of 'publicly inciting hatred and hostility' as part of an ongoing investigation against him. The decision document stated that Özdağ's social media posts also led to incidents in Kayseri. In his defense, Özdağ claimed that he called for people to "return home" in Kayseri. Özdağ was taken to Marmara Prison (formerly known as Silivri Prison).
SENT A LETTER FROM PRISON Özdağ sent a handwritten letter from prison to a television program through the Vice Chairman of the Victory Party, Ali Şehirlioğlu. In his letter, Özdağ shared details of his experience and stated that he was arrested in a setup similar to those in the Ergenekon and Balyoz conspiracy cases, saying, "This is one of the incredible legal murders. The aim is to silence Ümit Özdağ and the Victory Party."
"I HAD TO SPEND THE NIGHT ON A BENCH" Özdağ included the following statements in his letter: "I was arrested in Ankara for the crime of insulting the President. I was brought to Istanbul at times at a speed of 150 kilometers. Despite the care and kindness of our young police brothers at the Istanbul Police Department, I had to spend the night on a 30-centimeter-wide bench, which was apparently ordered from above. My young police brothers gave me a blanket. I was told we would go to Çağlayan Courthouse at 10:00 AM, but they could only take me at 1:30 PM because they realized I had not committed the crime of insulting the President. A report was requested from the Kayseri Police Department to create a new file for this. They kept me waiting until that report arrived. They arrested me by establishing a connection between the 'x's I posted in 2020, 2021, and 2022, none of which were related to the Kayseri incidents. This is one of the incredible legal murders. The aim is to silence Ümit Özdağ and the Victory Party. They think it will be easier to release Öcalan when Ümit Özdağ and the Victory Party are silenced."
WHAT HAPPENED? On January 19, an ex officio investigation was initiated against Victory Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ for his remarks directed at President Erdoğan during a consultation meeting with the provincial heads of his party, for the crime of "insulting the President," and 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 taken to the Istanbul Courthouse. After his statement was taken by the Terror Crimes Investigation Bureau, he was arrested by the duty magistrate for the crime of "inciting hatred and hostility" and sent to Marmara Prison.
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