'He said he wasn't allowed to perform a prayer of gratitude': DMM responds to Ümit Özdağ's statement

Zafer Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ was released during the second hearing of the case in which he was detained on charges of inciting the public to hatred and hostility.

Özdağ, who regained his freedom after 148 days, said in a statement upon leaving the prison, "The first thing I planned to do as soon as I got out of here was to perform a prayer of gratitude at the mosque over there, but the gendarmerie did not allow it."

The Center for Combating Disinformation (DMM), which operates under the Presidency's Directorate of Communications, responded to this statement by Özdağ.

DMM refuted Özdağ's statement and noted the following:

"The claim shared on social media platforms that 'Ümit Özdağ was prevented by the gendarmerie from performing a prayer upon leaving the Marmara Penal Execution Institution' is baseless.

The full statement from DMM is as follows:

"The claim shared on social media platforms that 'Ümit Özdağ was prevented by the gendarmerie from performing a prayer upon leaving the Marmara Penal Execution Institution' is baseless.

Ümit Özdağ and those accompanying him did not make any requests to the gendarmerie personnel after leaving the penal institution, nor did they notify them of a desire to perform a prayer.

The duty and responsibility of the gendarmerie are within the boundaries of the prison. The area where it is claimed that a prayer was intended to be performed is a mosque outside the prison.

Therefore, it is not legally possible for the gendarmerie to intervene in or grant permission for this area.

Furthermore, no situation that could create a security vulnerability or any request for security measures was conveyed by the parties.

In conclusion, this claim is disinformation intended to mislead the public.

Respectfully announced to the public."

The claim shared on social media platforms that “Ümit Özdağ was prevented by the gendarmerie from performing a prayer upon leaving the Marmara Penal Execution Institution” is baseless.

Ümit Özdağ and those accompanying him did not make any… pic.twitter.com/aTbshlI0io

— Dezenformasyonla Mücadele Merkezi (@dmmiletisim) June 17, 2025

News Source: 12punto