As Maroon Beret Colonel Orkun Is Arrested with the 'Commando Oath'...

While there was talk of the discomfort caused by the liquidation of "nationalist" cadres in the latest police decree, based on an editorial in the MHP's newspaper Türkgün, retired Maroon Beret Colonel Orkun Özeller, who has proven his nationalism and patriotism many times over, was openly targeted and threatened by MHP members for criticizing the new "opening" process.

While everyone was curiously waiting to see what action would be taken against those who issued these heavy threats, a detention order and subsequently an arrest warrant were issued for Özeller.

Özeller, who is also a politician active in the IYI Party, had committed the "crime of criticizing Bahçeli." Of course, that is not the official crime; it was "inciting the public to hatred and hostility"!..

The complainant was MHP Leader Devlet Bahçeli. Even if we assume that Özeller committed this "crime":

Where is the address of the MHP and Bahçeli? Ankara... Where did Özeller commit that "crime"? In Ordu...

But where was the criminal complaint filed? To the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office!..

Since the same law applies throughout Turkey, why is that?!

How Did He Receive the News of Detention?

I spoke with Orkun Özeller via his wife's phone the day before yesterday while he was waiting at the Ordu Courthouse, where he had gone of his own volition, to give his statement to the prosecutor in Istanbul via SEGBİS (Audio and Visual Information System). First, we talked about how he learned of the detention order.

After sitting at his sister-in-law's house on Tuesday night, they had gone down to the beach to have tea. Meanwhile, neighbors from their former home called to report that a crowd of people claiming to be "plainclothes police" had arrived, adding that they did not look much like police.

Naturally, Özeller became suspicious due to the threats. They called the police and 112. When it was confirmed that those who arrived were indeed police, he said he would go to the courthouse early in the morning.

I asked if he had a message; he simply replied, "I stand by my words. My slogan is this: The PKK and Apo-sympathizers are treacherous, they are not Turkish."

Even the Officials Cried

As expected, after his interrogation by the prosecutor, Orkun Özeller was referred to the Criminal Judgeship of Peace with a request for his arrest.

Hours later, he appeared before the judge again via SEGBİS; or rather, he made his defense to a judge he could not see.

Since it was a SEGBİS connection, the judge's image was not provided. When his lawyer, Doğan Kozan, said, "I cannot see you. This is contrary to the principle of face-to-face proceedings," the judge replied, "Unfortunately, there is a technical malfunction," and ordered Özeller's arrest without asking a single question.

According to what I learned from his relatives, at the end of his defense, Özeller recited the "Commando March," known as the oath that must be memorized by all commandos:

"We do not know what fear is, we are the men of the mountains; we made our nest in the skies, in dizzying places; we overcome obstacles, we cross the lofty, vast mountains; we reach out our hands to the purple-black clouds. I am a Turkish commando, I crush the enemy with my steel claw; I am everywhere, in the air, on land, at sea, in the desert, in the ravine, and in the swamp. Always and everywhere, ready; always ready; who: commando, who: commando, who: commando, you cannot be: yahh, you cannot be: yahh!, commando: Allah!; May Allah protect the commando."

After reciting it, and based on the lyrics "I am everywhere, in the air, on land, at sea, in the desert, in the ravine, and in the swamp," he said, "I hope this 'everywhere' does not include prison."

Again, according to his relatives, the march and Özeller's words made even the officials in the courtroom cry.

Another detail that was wondered about; fortunately, Özeller was not handcuffed, he was just taken by the arm!..

A "Come On" Message from the Terrorist Leader

It is impossible not to recount what the "pro-opening" advocates said and did on the day Orkun Özeller, who wore the uniform of the Turkish Army for exactly 28 years and protected the honor of the Turkish Nation on every domestic and foreign front he served, was arrested in this manner.

At the hours when Özeller arrived at the Ordu Courthouse, his lawyers, who were allowed to go to Imralı after a 6-year hiatus on Monday, announced the "views and suggestions" of the terrorist leader.

According to the statement; "Mr. Öcalan" commanded that "as of the stage reached, it has come to the stage of a legal solution." What was that "stage of a legal solution"?

He claimed that "within the century-long process, Kurds have been kept outside the law as a phenomenon" and that he was trying to overcome this illegality... For this, he was insistent on the "democratic nation, democratic republic project"... He stated that the "Kurdish issue" had many political, social, economic, and cultural dimensions, and that legal solutions covering interim laws were required... Furthermore, it would be a matter of principle that "an approach equivalent to Mr. Öcalan's role and status as an interlocutor be displayed," and that positive steps be taken regarding the "right to hope" within this scope.

In short; it became crystal clear that the terrorist leader, who is claimed to have unconditionally disbanded the organization and made them lay down their arms, is in a "my son reads the building, reads it over and over again" mode!..

These Were Discussed in the Commission

During the hours when Orkun Özeller was giving his statement to the prosecutor and judge, the following happened:

The commission in Parliament, which started its 10th meeting, listened to academics working on "conflict resolution" in different parts of the world and the President of the MIT (National Intelligence Organization) Academy, as if it had never been discussed in previous openings.

At the opening of the meeting, Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş stated that the "commission's primary duty is to take steps to realize the legal regulations required by the process while also ensuring social consensus" and that they were trying to put forward a "Turkey model." In his closing speech, he asked for "prevention of those who want to poison the process, even if they are few in number, and for attention to be paid to the language used."

As for what happened and what was said at the meeting;

There was a debate on "comparing" Atatürk with the terrorist leader... It was requested that red lines not be highlighted and that the condition of autonomy for local administrations be implemented in a real sense in the medium and long term... It was suggested that studies similar to the Wise People Committee be conducted... It was demanded that investigations/prosecutions related to the PKK be stopped and that Erdoğan be given "general authority" regarding the "solution process."

The statements of MIT Academy President Prof. Dr. Talha Köse were very remarkable; he defined the process as a "great Turkey consensus" and said, "never before at any stage had this point been reached"... He pointed out the importance of including the components of the terrorist organization in the process from different perspectives... He reported that there was no pause in the terrorist leader's contacts with his organization; that he was conducting parallel contacts with its extensions in Europe, Syria, and Iraq... He emphasized that the process was being "carried out with state ownership and political will"... He noted that public support would increase over time... He said that the ultimate goal was not "ending the conflict" but "the establishment of justice, the construction of social trust, and clearly demonstrating that different identities can live together"... And he spoke of the "reconstruction of the social contract," that is, a new constitution.

Connect with the Terrorist Leader Online

While Orkun Özeller was waiting for the decision to be made about him at the Ordu Courthouse, DEM Group Deputy Chairperson Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit made a statement, repeating the demand for commission members to meet with the terrorist leader, saying, "It is very important and necessary to hear his views and thoughts on the democratic solution of the Kurdish issue from himself... It is wrong to evaluate this as going to his feet. Then fine, open the doors of Imralı, let Mr. Öcalan come and speak in Parliament... let him explain his thoughts to the commission."

Let us make a suggestion (!) like "what is the need for a fight, connect the terrorist leader to the commission online, and that's it" and continue with Koçyiğit's other words.

She stated that "there is a need for seriousness," meaning she accused some of "lack of seriousness"... She asked the commission to move from the "listening" phase to the laws the process needs, and warned, "Otherwise, the process will be interrupted."

The Terrorist Leader Could Be Released with a Decree from Erdoğan

The following also happened the day before yesterday:

A statement given by one of the PKK ringleaders, Duran Kalkan, to the organization's agency was published.

Kalkan explained that "as the Kurdish side, they have done what needs to be done as quickly and early as possible," that the terrorist leader is "not just any person, but the leader, political representative, and chief negotiator of 60 million Kurds," and that he should be approached accordingly, claiming that Erdoğan could ensure the terrorist leader's freedom with a decree.

And furthermore, he issued threats: "There is no child on the mountain preparing to run home... We are barely holding ourselves back; I can say that much."

In Diyarbakır, the "Democratic Institutions Platform," which includes the DEM and the Democratic Regions Party (DBP), held a march for the release of the terrorist leader.

In the march where posters of the terrorist leader were unfurled and slogans in his favor were chanted, DBP co-chair Çiğdem Kılıçgün Uçar claimed that the commission in Parliament was established by the "will of the terrorist leader."

Did Turkey Withdraw from Afrin?

Anything else?

According to the Barzani media outlet, the Afrin administration affiliated with the Syrian government announced that the Turkish bases that have been there since 2018 have been completely evacuated; intelligence, governorship, special forces, gendarmerie, counter-terrorism, and police forces have withdrawn from the Afrin city center and its districts. In the news in question, it was reported that the 3-4 bases remaining in only 4 villages would also be evacuated within the framework of the "redeployment plan" prepared within the scope of the agreement reached between Syria and Turkey.

Fortunately, MSB (Ministry of National Defense) sources made a statement at yesterday's press briefing, saying, "The withdrawal of our troops from Syria is a matter that can only be re-evaluated if our border security is fully ensured and the terror threat is completely eliminated."

Police and Soldiers Accused in the Commission

Yesterday was Orkun Özeller's first day in prison.

In the parliamentary commission, which continues its work, some associations, most of which are known for their views on the PKK and the "Kurdish issue," were heard.

One of those heard was Mehmet Bekir Şimşek, Deputy Chairman of the Islamic Preaching and Teaching Science Movement Men's Association (İTTİHAD), chaired by Enver Kılıçarslan, who was convicted of membership in Hezbollah.

When Şimşek criticized the PKK, DEM member Saruhan Oluç reacted, saying, "Can peace be made with this language? We have tolerated it until now, you are feeding on blood, shame on you, blood-spillers. May God curse you." Another DEM member, Cengiz Çiçek, said, "You massacred people with pig-ties. You are the ones who are a plague on the Kurds." And all DEM members left the commission.

When Mehmet Bekir Şimşek criticized not only the PKK but also the police and soldiers, accusing them of "committing massacres," the following happened:

MHP Deputy Chairman Feti Yıldız warned, "Look, we invited you here, but we didn't call you to insult the soldiers, the police, and the state."

Here is the two-day summary of the process that Feti Yıldız named the "Bahçeli model" and said would be an "example to the world":

Maroon Beret Orkun Özeller is in jail... The separatists are in Parliament, in the squares...

This is our state of affairs!..

Müyesser YILDIZ

September 19, 2025