BTP Chairman Hüseyin Baş visits Ümit Özdağ in support: 'We hope to be rid of this as soon as possible'

Welcomed there by Özdağ's lawyers and party officials, Hüseyin Baş received information about Özdağ's situation. Hüseyin Baş, who also held a brief meeting with IYI Party Chairman Müsavat Dervişoğlu at the courthouse, made statements to the press upon leaving.

Hüseyin Baş said the following:

"As members of the Independent Turkey Party, we have been following the incident closely since we learned of Mr. Ümit Özdağ's detention process, along with all our colleagues and deputy chairmen. Today, we came together here with all the officials and the entire organization of the Victory Party to show our solidarity.

"A PROCESS THAT STARTED WITH US 3 WEEKS AGO"

There was a process that started with us about 3 weeks ago. We were subjected to an ex officio investigation at 2 a.m. for allegedly insulting the President. For an act to be legally classified as a crime, it must constitute a criminal element against everyone; it cannot be that 'When I say something to you it is a crime, but when you say it to me it is not.' Therefore, this is the principle of legality in our criminal law. The Principle of Legality is like bread and water for us. Life is not possible without it, but these types of arguments are currently being used in such a way that expressions that would not constitute a crime in any way when said by one person to another are being served to the public today as if they were crimes. Therefore, this is actually becoming a situation where law and the judiciary are being used as a stick. This is not a situation that can be accepted for Turkish democracy at all.

"WE HOPE TO BE RID OF THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE"

We are people who are trying to engage in politics in Turkey, trying to convey these ideas to the public with our political parties, organizations, and thoughts. Ümit Özdağ is also such a person. No one in this country has ever been harmed by listening to Mr. Ümit Özdağ to this day. Therefore, we observe that the treatment he is receiving is unfair and unlawful. Hopefully, this process will pass, these processes will also pass. Galileo was put on trial because he said 'the earth moves.' He was convicted as a result of the trial, and he turned to the court that gave that sentence and said, 'But it still moves.' Therefore, we hope to be rid of an environment where telling the truth is a crime as soon as possible.

"EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED, TURKEY HAS CHANGED TOO"

As members of the Independent Turkey Party, we stand with the Victory Party members, we stand with Ümit Özdağ. We see this not as something done to Ümit Özdağ, but as something done to the entire opposition in Turkey. Today, Ümit Özdağ is in the investigation phase and will likely be tried tomorrow; Hüseyin Baş is in the investigation phase and will likely be tried tomorrow; Ekrem İmamoğlu is in the investigation phase and will likely be tried tomorrow. Those who are being tried, those who are opposing, the ones doing the judging are certainly the courthouse and the prosecutor's office. Whatever the Turkish Courts of Law decide, we will abide by that decision. This is a civic duty for all of us. A lot has changed in Turkey in recent days, everything has changed, and Turkey has changed too. I know that those who understand this will understand. I hope that these dark clouds will disperse from over us as soon as possible."