Türkiye detains opposition leader on charges of insulting president

Ümit Özdağ, leader of Türkiye's opposition Zafer Party, has been detained in Ankara on charges of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

According to Cumhuriyet newspaper, the opposition politician is set to be transferred to Istanbul, where the local prosecutor's office has initiated an investigation against him, per Caliber.Az.

The case against Özdağ, who has previously called for the expulsion of Syrian refugees from Türkiye, stems from his comments regarding Erdoğan's alleged attacks on religion.

“I am ready to make this speech a thousand more times. You can put me in jail or shoot me,” Özdağ declared in response to his detention.

Members of the Turkish opposition have rallied in support of Özdağ.

Under Article 299 of Türkiye's Criminal Code, insulting the president is punishable by imprisonment ranging from one to four years.

By Tamilla Hasanova