Why was Ümit Özdağ detained? What statements did he make? What is the latest on Ümit Özdağ? Which politicians reacted to the detention decision?

Zafer Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ was detained in Ankara and brought to Istanbul as part of an investigation launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on charges of insulting the President, following his remarks in Antalya. So, why was Ümit Özdağ detained? What statements did he make? Which politicians commented on the decision? Here are all the details regarding Ümit Özdağ's detention process...

WHY WAS ÜMİT ÖZDAĞ DETAINED?

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office announced that an investigation had been launched against Zafer Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ on charges of insulting the President. Özdağ was detained as part of the investigation.

WHAT DID ÖZDAĞ SAY?

An ex officio investigation was launched due to Özdağ's remarks at the Zafer Party Antalya Provincial Chairmen Consultation Meeting held on January 19. His remarks targeting AK Party Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan were cited as the justification for the detention.

"DURING THE ERDOĞAN ERA, THE TURKISH NATION BEGAN TO COOL TOWARD ITS RELIGION"

Özdağ used the following expressions in his speech in Antalya:

"No Crusade has been able to make the Turkish nation Deist, Atheist, or Christian. During the Erdoğan era, large segments of the Turkish nation began to cool toward their religion because of those who deceive in the name of God, and the rate of deists and atheists exceeded 16 percent during the Erdoğan era."

Continuing his speech, Özdağ said, "Erdoğan is harming the faith of the Turkish nation by distributing the Turkish nation's state among sects and communities, by making those who commit shirk partners in the state, and is destroying the culture of the Turkish nation by letting millions of refugees and illegal immigrants into Anatolia. What is happening is actually an AKP fascism."

In a social media post after the news of the investigation, Özdağ had said, "I am ready to make this speech 1000 more times."

WHEN WAS ÜMİT ÖZDAĞ DETAINED?

It was announced that Özdağ was detained on Monday evening, January 20, while he was having dinner in Ankara. The Zafer Party leader was later taken to Istanbul to give a statement.

MÜSAVAT DERVİŞOĞLU WENT TO ÇAĞLAYAN COURTHOUSE

İYİ Party Chairman Müsavat Dervişoğlu went to the Çağlayan Courthouse to support Özdağ.

Pointing out that the legal process was being conducted in Istanbul despite the speech in question being made in Antalya and Özdağ residing in Ankara, Dervişoğlu said, "This reminds us of the martial law periods. Was a special martial law police station established in Istanbul, or was a martial law prosecutor's office created?" Continuing his speech, Dervişoğlu stated, "Let everyone know well that nationalists, Atatürkists, democrats, and patriots will no longer compete. Let everyone be a witness that they will unite."

DID ÖZGÜR ÖZEL MAKE A STATEMENT?

CHP leader Özgür Özel went to the Çağlayan Courthouse following the detention of Zafer Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ and reacted to the decision. Özel said, "Detaining opposition politicians abruptly at a restaurant where they are eating instead of summoning them for a statement is a continuation of attempts to discredit them."

Özel added to his words, "I am calling out to Tayyip Erdoğan once again: Withdraw your subcontractors from the struggle with political rivals and bring the ballot box before the nation as soon as possible."

WHICH OTHER POLITICIANS REACTED TO THE DETENTION DECISION?

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu said the detention was "not acceptable"; he stated, "Politics exists to talk and criticize, and in democracies, political reckoning happens at the ballot box. The judiciary cannot be an apparatus of politics."

Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş condemned the detention. In a statement on his social media account, Yavaş said, "Politics is for talking and criticizing. All practices that will strengthen the perception that the judiciary is a tool of politics should be abandoned."

WAS ÜMİT ÖZDAĞ RELEASED?

It had been alleged that Özdağ was released after giving his statement. The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office stated the following in a press release shared with members of the press: "The news that Özdağ has been released is not true. Work is underway for a precautionary request."

WAS AN ARREST REQUESTED?

The prosecutor's office requested the arrest of Zafer Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ on charges of "publicly inciting the people to hatred and hostility."