Ümit Özdağ, leader of Turkey’s anti-immigration Victory Party (Zafer Partisi), has been detained in Ankara on allegations of “insulting the president” and “inciting hatred.” The detention follows remarks Özdağ made during a party meeting on January 19, which prosecutors claim violated Turkish laws. Özdağ has since been transferred to Istanbul for further legal proceedings.

The Victory Party, a nationalist and opposition party known for its strong stance against immigration, has been a vocal critic of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government and policies. Özdağ has frequently accused Erdoğan’s administration of mismanagement and undermining Turkey’s secular foundations.

Özdağ was detained last night (Jan 20th.) over alleged remarks deemed insulting to the president and inciting hatred—A crime in Turkey punishable by 1 to 4 years in prison and has seen the prosecution of over 160 thousand people between 2014 and 2020. Özdağ’s detention is the latest in a string of arrests targeting opposition figures and mayors in recent weeks, though the circumstances surrounding his case are distinct. The investigation is tied to comments Özdağ made during a January 19 meeting with his party’s provincial leaders. -Turkish opposition leader detained

The Victory Party leader claimed that the proportion of deists and atheists in Turkey had surpassed 16% during the AKP era, attributing this rise to the policies of Erdoğan’s government. He accused Erdoğan of responsibility for allowing the Gülen Movement (FETÖ) to infiltrate state institutions. FETÖ is widely........

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