Ümit Özdağ arrested

Ümit Özdağ, who was detained in Ankara and brought to the Istanbul Police Department as part of an investigation launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on charges of "insulting the President" and "inciting the public to hatred and hostility," was taken to the Istanbul Courthouse after his processing was completed.

Giving his statement to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office at the Istanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan, Özdağ was referred to the court with a request for his arrest.

ARRESTED

Zafer Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ was arrested by the judgeship to which he was referred on charges of "publicly inciting the public to hatred and hostility."

Zafer Party Chairman Prof. Dr. Ümit Özdağ will be taken to Metris Prison.

A decision was made for Özdağ to be transferred to Marmara Prison after staying in Metris Prison for a short time. In a statement made by the party spokesperson, it was noted that Ümit Özdağ was being taken to Marmara Prison.

The note conveyed by Ümit Özdağ, for whom an arrest warrant was issued, through his lawyer is as follows:

I am a soldier of Atatürk and I will defend the republic he founded with determination and all my strength; I will continue the struggle in prison as well. My only concern is to be subjected to an assassination similar to the one they carried out against Kaşif Kozinoğlu. My request from the Turkish nation is to support the Zafer Party.

HIS INITIAL STATEMENT HAS EMERGED

The initial statement of Zafer Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ has emerged.

It was learned that in his defense regarding the charge of 'inciting the public to hatred and enmity,' Özdağ said, "We are the ones who are the true friends of the Syrians by advocating for the non-division of Syria. It is our most democratic right as a party to express our reaction regarding Syrians, Afghans, and others."

"WE ARE THE ONES WHO ARE THE TRUE FRIENDS OF THE SYRIANS"

Stating, "We are the ones who are the true friends of the Syrians by advocating for the non-division of Syria," Ümit Özdağ expressed the following in his defense:

"However, it is our most democratic right as a party to express our reaction regarding Syrians, Afghans, and others who disturb the Turkish public, engage in illegal acts, and cause harm to the environment while in our country. This reaction is not Arab hostility, Syrian hostility, or racism; it is a requirement of being a reasonable citizen of the Republic of Turkey. There is no organizational link between the Zafer Party and any violent incident that has occurred in our country against Syrians, and there never has been. In this regard, the Zafer Party has acted and will continue to act much more sensitively than other parties. For all these reasons, I request that a decision of non-prosecution be issued regarding me."