Another indictment prepared against Ümit Özdağ: Speech from 5 years ago cited as grounds

Zafer Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ will be tried in a high criminal court due to statements he made regarding the Turkish military presence in Libya during a press conference he held at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) on February 26, 2020, while serving as a 27th-term Member of Parliament.

Özdağ faces a potential prison sentence of three to seven years on charges of disclosing the identities of National Intelligence Organization (MİT) personnel.

ALLEGEDLY NAMED 2 MİT PERSONNEL

In the press statement in question, Özdağ stated, "The Turkish army has been made a party to an Arab civil war 2,000 kilometers away in Libya," and disclosed the ranks and names of two MİT personnel, announcing that these individuals had been martyred.

Following this statement, an ex officio investigation was launched in accordance with Article 27/2 of the State Intelligence Services and National Intelligence Organization Law No. 2937, and a summary of proceedings (fezleke) was prepared against Özdağ.

LEGISLATIVE IMMUNITY LIFTED

According to a report in Sabah, the Ministry of Justice's General Directorate of Criminal Affairs stated that Özdağ's immunity had been lifted because he was not re-elected as a member of parliament in the 2023 general elections, and provided an opinion to the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office to initiate an investigation.

During this process, Özdağ's statement was taken on June 14, 2024, and an indictment was filed against him on charges of "violating the National Intelligence Organization Law."

Özdağ will appear before a judge in the coming days on allegations of disclosing the identities, duties, and activities of MİT personnel and their families.

Independently of this case, Ümit Özdağ remains in custody. He was detained as part of an investigation launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office due to remarks he made about President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during his party's provincial chairmen meeting on January 19, and was subsequently arrested and sent to Silivri Prison on charges of "publicly inciting the people to hatred and hostility."