Ümit Özdağ describes security measures taken in prison! 'The corridors are kept empty'

Zafer Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ was recently arrested on charges of "publicly inciting hatred and hostility." Özdağ shared his experiences from his first week at Silivri Prison, where he has been held since January 21, with Cumhuriyet columnist Barış Pehlivan. Özdağ detailed the assassination concerns he had prior to his arrest and his life in prison.

"CONCERN OF BEING ASSASSINATED"

Before his arrest, Özdağ mentioned a tip he had received about a year and a half ago. The tip alleged that he would be arrested and that he would suffer from depression due to psychological pressure in prison, or even die. Stating that he knows who held these conversations, Özdağ remarked, "They will be disappointed."

In his column titled "How did Özdağ's first week go?", Barış Pehlivan wrote down the details of his interview with Özdağ, who is being held at Silivri Prison, conducted through his lawyer Hilmi Güllü. According to Pehlivan, Ümit Özdağ said the following:

"Question: Before your arrest, you stated that you were concerned about being assassinated, like Kaşif Kozinoğlu. What is the source of this concern? If you received a tip regarding this claim, what was its content?

Ümit Özdağ: I received a tip about 1.5 years ago. A person who happened to witness the meeting where this was discussed conveyed what was said to a friend of mine. My friend then passed it on to me. In the conversation, it was discussed that I would be arrested, that I would face very harsh psychological conditions in prison after being arrested, that I would fall into depression, collapse, and die. I more or less know who held this conversation and where. They will be disappointed.

Question: How is your life in Silivri Prison going?

Ümit Özdağ: For the first two days, I slept more than I ever have in my life. I slept 10 hours the first day and 12 hours the second day. Every morning, I start the day with a little exercise in my single-person cell, followed by breakfast. Then I work on my notes and prepare for lawyer meetings. I subscribed to four daily newspapers. These are Cumhuriyet, Sözcü, Nefes, and Hürriyet; however, there is nothing left to read in Hürriyet. When my one-month subscription ends, I will cancel it and subscribe to Korkusuz. Then my meetings begin. The bar association presidents of Çanakkale, Tekirdağ, Edirne, and Kırklareli came to visit me on the second day. I thank them. I have an average of 12 lawyer meetings a day.

Question: You are in the same prison as people detained for many different cases. From this perspective, what are your impressions of Silivri Prison?

Ümit Özdağ: I have almost no impressions. Because care is taken to ensure the corridors are empty when I pass through. If someone is in the corridor, I pass through a different one. Security is handled very sensitively. The door of the meeting booth, which is normally not locked during lawyer meetings, is locked. The adjacent booth is kept empty during the meeting. That is why I have no observations."

News Source: 12punto