Ümit Özdağ Faces Trial for Insulting the President Amid Ongoing Detention

Zafer Party leader Ümit Özdağ, who has been held in Marmara Prison in Silivri since January 19, 2025, appeared before a judge for the first time on Monday. Özdağ is being prosecuted for allegedly insulting the President during a political speech.

The hearing took place at Istanbul’s 14th High Criminal Courtroom due to space limitations, though it officially falls under the 35th Criminal Court of First Instance. Despite available seating, lawyers and journalists were prevented from entering by riot police, causing significant tension in the courthouse corridors.

Özdağ Defends Himself Before the Court

Özdağ delivered a 30-page defense, addressing comments he made during his party’s Provincial Presidents’ Consultation Meeting in Antalya. His controversial remarks compared the impact of President Erdoğan and the AKP on Türkiye to that of historic Crusades. The following day, Özdağ was detained in Ankara on charges of insulting the President.

In his defense, Özdağ clarified:

“In my speech, references to ‘Erdoğan and AKP’ were made together. It is clear that the criticism targeted Erdoğan as the head of the AKP, not in his capacity as President.”

Özdağ described being detained by around 100 police officers, transported at high speed to Istanbul, and spending the night on a wooden board at the police station. He also criticized the prosecution, arguing that the indictment did not clearly specify which parts of his speech were considered insulting.

Legal Confusion and Additional Charges

Although the current trial concerns the insult case, Özdağ’s detention primarily stems from another accusation: “inciting hatred and enmity”. He faces separate charges related to social media posts allegedly linked to July 2024 protests in Kayseri, during which widespread property damage and injuries were reported.

Prosecutors claim Özdağ’s posts about refugees contributed to the escalation of violence. They cited 11 posts from 2020 onward as evidence, arguing that these comments violated laws protecting against hate speech based on race, religion, or social class.

Courtroom Unrest and Political Reactions

The refusal to admit lawyers into the courtroom led to scuffles in the courthouse, footage of which quickly spread online.

The Zafer Party issued a call for public support, urging citizens to defend their rights and join them at the courthouse. Zafer Party spokesperson Azmi Karamahmutoğlu stated:

“Before it’s your turn, come to Çağlayan to defend your citizenship rights.”

Meanwhile, Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel canceled the party’s scheduled group meeting to attend Özdağ’s hearing, underscoring the political sensitivity surrounding the case.

Case Transfers and Upcoming Hearings

In a procedural twist, the court ruled that since Özdağ’s speech was delivered in Antalya, the Istanbul 35th Criminal Court lacked jurisdiction. The case file has been transferred to Antalya for further proceedings.

Özdağ remains in pretrial detention at Silivri Prison, awaiting the main hearing on June 11, 2025, concerning charges of inciting hatred and enmity.