Turkish court sentences opposition politician for inciting hatred, but orders his release
Turkish court sentences opposition politician for inciting hatred (Image: AP)
A Turkish court on Tuesday sentenced a far-right politician to more than two years in prison for inciting public hatred and hostility, but ordered his release because of time already served.
Umit Ozdag, the leader of Turkey's Victory Party, was detained in January over accusations that he insulted President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with comments that he made during a party meeting.
A day later, Ozdag was formally arrested and charged with inciting hatred against migrants. He was blamed for last year's anti-Syrian refugee riots in the central Turkish province of Kayseri, during which hundreds of homes and businesses were attacked.
Ozdag, a 64-year-old former academic, is an outspoken critic of Turkey's refugee policies, and has previously called for the repatriation of millions of Syrian refugees.
During his trial, Ozdag acknowledged advocating the return of refugees, but strongly denied that he had incited violence against them. He maintained that his imprisonment was politically motivated and aimed at silencing him.
The court sentenced him to two years and four months in prison, but ordered his release, ruling that he has already served a sufficient portion of the sentence.
The trial took place amid a widespread crackdown on the opposition to Erdogan's Justice and Development Party.
Officials from municipalities controlled by the main opposition - the Republican People's Party, or CHP - have faced waves of arrests this year. Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, viewed as the main challenger to Erdogan's two-decade rule, was detained in March over allegations of corruption.
Many people in Turkey consider the cases to be politically driven, according to opinion polls. However, Erdogan's government insists that the courts are impartial and free from political involvement.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
18 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Remains intact': Akhilesh Yadav claims INDIA bloc unity; says Samajwadi Party will fight 2027 UP polls within alliance
Akhilesh Yadav (PTI photo) NEW DELHI: Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday reaffirmed that the opposition INDIA bloc "remains united" and announced that his party would contest the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections as part of the anti-BJP bloc. Speaking to reporters, Yadav dismissed recent remarks that questioned the cohesion of the INDIA bloc. "I have nothing to do with the statement given by anyone. Our INDIA alliance is intact. Those who want to leave the INDIA alliance can go," Akhilesh Yadav was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. His comments came in response to Congress MP Imran Masood's statement that the Congress is not a "beggar" seeking seats from the Samajwadi Party. Both parties are key members of the INDIA coalition, which was formed ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to challenge the all-dominant BJP. Yadav made it clear that the SP would remain committed to the alliance in the 2027 Uttar Pradesh polls. The SP-Congress partnership in Uttar Pradesh proved to be a successful combination in the 2024 general elections, with the two parties together securing 43 out of the state's 80 Lok Sabha seats. Taking a swipe at Uttar Pradesh chief minsiter Yogi Adityanath and his deputy Keshav Prasad Maurya, Akhilesh said internal friction is becoming evident within the state's "double-engine" BJP government. "In a place like Kaushambi, the two deputy CMs have spoiled the atmosphere, they are not letting anyone get do not want any PDA ( Pichhda, Dalit, Alpasankhyak ) family to get justice," he alleged, without providing further details about the situation in Kaushambi. Yadav reiterated his party's support for a caste-based census. "If the government of the 'samajwadis' is formed, we will get the census done in three months. Today, there is technology, today there are resources, and things can be done in less time," he said. Yadav, a former UP chief minister, also said the SP is gearing up for the panchayat elections expected to take place in the state early next year. He alleged that the BJP is manipulating the upcoming panchayat polls by attempting to increase the number of gram panchayats to complicate vote dynamics. "There are about 52,000 gram panchayats right now. They (BJP) are thinking about increasing the numbers, so that our votes get messed up," he claimed.
Mint
27 minutes ago
- Mint
NYC Comptroller Brad Lander arrested by federal agents at immigration court in Manhattan
New York City comptroller and Democratic mayoral candidate Brad Lander was arrested by federal agents at an immigration court Tuesday as he was trying to accompany a person out of a courtroom. A reporter with The Associated Press witnessed Lander's arrest at a federal building in Manhattan. The person Lander was walking out of the courtroom was also arrested. Lander had spent the morning observing immigration court hearings and told an AP reporter that he was there to 'accompany' some immigrants out of the building. At a press conference following the arrest, Lander's wife, Meg Barnette, said her husband had tried to link arms with a man following his immigration court hearing when 'we were swarmed by a number of federal agents.' 'They said, 'You're obstructing,'' Barnette said. 'I was shoved out of the way.' 'What I saw was shocking and unacceptable,' she added. 'What I saw today was not the rule of law.' A video of the arrest, captured by an AP reporter, shows an agent telling Lander, 'You're obstructing." In the moments before Lander was handcuffed, agents could be seen trying to physically separate Lander from the man they had come to detain. Lander briefly struggled to stay close to the detainee before he was pulled away. 'I'm not obstructing, I'm standing right here in the hallway," Lander said as he was being handcuffed. 'You don't have the authority to arrest U.S. citizens asking for a judicial warrant,' Lander said as he was led away down a hallway and into an elevator. One of the officers who led Lander away wore a tactical vest labeled 'federal agent.' Others were in plainclothes, with surgical masks over their faces. The episode occurred as federal immigration officials are conducting large-scale arrests outside immigration courtrooms across the country. Lander's detainment comes a little more than a month after Newark, New Jersey, Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested on a trespassing charge outside a federal immigration detention center in his city. The charge was later dropped by interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba, and Baraka's fellow Democrat, Rep. LaMonica McIver, was charged with assaulting and impeding federal agents stemming from her role at the same visit as the mayor. A federal indictment charges she grabbed, pushed and blocked officers from arresting the mayor. She's denied the charges and said she plans to fight them. Baraka filed a federal lawsuit against Habba alleging false arrest and malicious prosecution. Emailed inquiries to the FBI and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement were not immediately returned. Lander is a candidate in the city's Democratic mayoral primary. Early voting in the contest is underway. In a statement, Lander's campaign said, "While escorting a defendant out of immigration court at 26 Federal Plaza, Brad was taken by masked agents and detained by ICE.'
Time of India
43 minutes ago
- Time of India
Wisconsin Supreme Court overturns GOP power grab, restores Attorney General's authority in major win
The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Tuesday struck down a law passed by Republicans in a 2018 lame-duck session that restricted the powers of Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul , as per a report. Court Rejects Law That Limited Attorney General's Power The court ruled unanimously, 7-0 that the law, which required Kaul to get approval from a Republican-controlled legislative committee before settling certain lawsuits, violated the state's separation of powers and was unconstitutional, according to an AP report. The law targeted Kaul's authority to settle lawsuits related to environmental and consumer protection cases , as well as those involving the governor's office and executive branch, AP reported. AP wrote, "The new law required the Legislature's budget committee, which is controlled by Republicans, to sign off on those settlements." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If You Eat Ginger Everyday for 1 Month This is What Happens Tips and Tricks Undo ALSO READ: U.S retail sales take a hit with biggest decline in 4 months — economists warn of consumer slowdown ahead How the Legal Battle Started According to AP, the legal battle started six years ago when the Republican-controlled Legislature held a session in December 2018 after Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul defeated Republican incumbents, and the laws signed by Republican Gov. Scott Walker, reduced the powers of both offices. Live Events What the Court Said About Separation of Powers Justice Brian Hagedorn, writing for the court, emphasized that the Legislature cannot 'assume for itself the power to execute a law it wrote,' quoted AP. Hagedorn also pointed out that there is no constitutional justification for requiring the Legislature's budget committee to sign off on court settlements at issue in the case, as quoted in the AP report. Attorney General Josh Kaul's Reaction to the Ruling Kaul celebrated the court's ruling, and said in a statement that the decision 'finally puts an end to the legislature's unconstitutional involvement in the resolution of key categories of cases,' as quoted in the report. FAQs What did the Wisconsin Supreme Court rule? The court struck down a law requiring the attorney general to get legislative approval before settling certain lawsuits, calling it unconstitutional, as per the AP report. When was the law passed? The law was passed in December 2018 during a lame-duck session after Democrats won key state offices, as per AP report.
