New development in the appeal against Orkun Özeller's detention

Following a criminal complaint filed with the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office due to his social media posts, retired Colonel Orkun Özeller, who was detained in Ordu on September 17 and arrested the same day, had his lawyers file an objection to both the arrest warrant and the fact that the investigation was being conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

Evaluating the file, the Istanbul 54th Criminal Court of First Instance reviewed the September 17, 2025, decision of the Istanbul 10th Criminal Judgeship of Peace regarding Orkun Özeller, who is being processed for the crime of "publicly inciting the public to hatred and hostility." The court concluded that the grounds upon which the decision was based were in accordance with the law.

Furthermore, the court ruled that "as it is understood that there is no reason to require a change in the decision, the objections, which were not found to be well-founded, must be rejected."

MESSAGE FROM ÖZELLER

According to ANKA, retired Colonel Özeller stated in a message conveyed through his lawyers: "My dear Turkish nation and its brave youth, who have not forgotten me and have not withheld their support since the day I was arrested, every message and every piece of news from you gives me strength."

Expressing that his belief that the process initiated following the laying down of arms by the terrorist organization will not succeed is growing stronger, Özeller used the following expressions:

"Our struggle cannot be hindered just because one of us is imprisoned, because we are those who say, 'May my existence be a gift to the Turkish existence.'"