A letter to 12punto from Ümit Özdağ, currently detained in Silivri! Tell the public that the indictment is completely empty

Zafer Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ, who is currently detained at Silivri Prison, has sent a letter to Bahadır Selim Dilek of 12punto.

In his letter, Özdağ stated that the indictment prepared against him is "completely unlawful" and requested that both Dilek and other journalists at 12punto explain the emptiness of the indictment to the public in concrete terms.

Özdağ emphasized that the gaps in the content of the indictment must be brought to light, stating that the process is being judged not only in courtrooms but also in the conscience of the public.

Here is Özdağ's letter:

“Dear Bahadır Selim Dilek,

I read your article on 12punto. You are one hundred percent right. I am telling this to those who visit me as well.

If there had been 30 percent of the reaction on January 21 that there was on March 18, March 19 would not have happened.

Now an indictment has arrived. It is completely empty. The same thing will happen to İmamoğlu and his team.

While the indictment for the Kobani investigation was written in 68 days, mine was written in 78 days.

Therefore, my request to you and the 12punto team is: Please do not just say 'the indictment is completely empty.' Show the public that it is completely empty.

Yes, the public knows that I am in Silivri because of Öcalan.

We must explain to the public how empty the indictment is by June 11.

Thus, it will be proven that I am being held in Silivri because of Öcalan.

And the acquittal will take place in the court of public opinion before the courtroom.”

Özdağ’s arrest is interpreted by the public not only as a move against him personally, but as part of a general crackdown on the opposition and freedom of expression.

The concept of "enemy criminal law" has become a frequently used definition for Özdağ during this process.

A large segment of the public argues that vague accusations such as "inciting the public to hatred and hostility" are being used to silence politicians, and that voices displeasing to the government are being suppressed through legal means.

The most critical point Özdağ points to in his letter is the "emptiness" of the indictment.

If an indictment does not support the elements of a crime with concrete evidence, it has turned into a political document. Özdağ argues that this danger will be applied not only to him but also to other figures in the opposition in the future. This situation is being evaluated as a very serious alarm for judicial independence and freedom of expression in Turkey.