Those words taken to court... First hearing held between Özdağ and Davutoğlu

In his speech at the joint parliamentary group meeting of the Felicity and Future parties on October 11, 2023, Future Party Chairman Ahmet Davutoğlu accused Ümit Özdağ of being a Mossad agent by implying his name, stating, "I am addressing those provocateurs who use every argument to incite the public against each other in Turkey, and who have confessed that they received training from MOSSAD and have relations with MOSSAD..." Following this, Victory Party Chairman Prof. Dr. Ümit Özdağ posted on his X account, "Mr. Ahmet, we will settle this in court. Let's see if you will squirm out of it like you did regarding the June-November 2015 period. Will you say you didn't mean Ümit Özdağ? Or will you have the courage to say you did mean Özdağ? My lawyer will request that the court demand documents from all security and intelligence institutions regarding whether I have any relationship, training, or engagement against Turkey with MOSSAD or any other foreign service, if any such documents exist. When the court is over, the mouths of all these dishonorable people will be shut."

The first hearing of the lawsuit between the two party leaders was held yesterday (January 30). Future Party Chairman Ahmet Davutoğlu, through his lawyer, presented a defense stating that "with those words, he did not mean Victory Party's Ümit Özdağ, and furthermore, such sentences can be used in politics to consolidate one's own base, and that calling someone an 'agent' is not a crime."

Victory Party Deputy Chairman in charge of Press, Attorney Sevdagül Tunçer, who is representing Prof. Dr. Ümit Özdağ in the case, made a statement after the hearing. Announcing that the next hearing will be in May, Tunçer said:

"We had filed a non-pecuniary damages lawsuit against Future Party Chairman Ahmet Davutoğlu due to the words he used in his speech at the group meeting on October 11, 2023. These words were to the effect that our Chairman, Prof. Dr. Ümit Özdağ, uses every argument to pit the public against each other, that he received training from MOSSAD, and that he has relations with MOSSAD. Ahmet Davutoğlu did not mention a name in his speech, but everyone naturally understood these expressions directed at our Chairman, and it was reported in various press outlets. By filing this lawsuit, we actually offered Mr. Davutoğlu an opportunity to prove these allegations. We asked him to present any information or documents if he had any. We even personally requested that if there is any information or document under state custody regarding our Chairman receiving training or having relations with Israel as mentioned, it should be brought through the court by writing to the MIT and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Neither the defendant Ahmet Davutoğlu, through his lawyer, nor the court received any evidence, information, or documents into the file. We also saw a step back in the defense, claiming that the words were not directed at my client (Prof. Dr. Ümit Özdağ). We encountered arguments that these were normal things that could be said or might have been said to consolidate his own political base. Being an agent of a state is equivalent to treason if you are a citizen of the Republic of Turkey who loves their country and nation. If you are making an allegation or accusation of treason against a person, you are obligated to prove it, especially if that person is Prof. Dr. Ümit Özdağ; you will prove it. We offered you this opportunity. Our next hearing will be in May. We are waiting for the file to reach a verdict. We will inform the public again about the outcome of the case."