Ümit Özdağ: 'I am lodging a complaint to the Turkish nation'

Zafer Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ, who has been held in pre-trial detention at the Marmara Closed Prison in Silivri for over two months, has issued a statement. Özdağ stated, "A political penalty is being imposed through detention. In the detention review conducted every 30 days, my detention is extended on the grounds that there is 'strong suspicion of a crime.' Yet, let alone suspicion of a crime; even if I were guilty, I would be released." 

Sharing a post via his social media account, Özdağ wrote the following: 

"The penalty for the crime of 'inciting the public to hatred and hostility,' for which I am being held, is 1-3 years. Even if I were to receive the maximum sentence of 3 years, it is not possible for me to remain in prison as long as I have already stayed. Yet, I have been held in a cell in a high-security prison for 66 days without an indictment being prepared. 

A political penalty is being imposed through detention. In the detention review conducted every 30 days, my detention is extended on the grounds that there is 'strong suspicion of a crime.'

Yet, let alone suspicion of a crime; even if I were guilty, I would be released.

This is an application of enemy criminal law.

I am lodging a complaint about this unjust and unlawful practice to the TURKISH NATION."