A court in Istanbul, Turkey, issued an arrest order for Umit Ozdag, the president of the far-right and anti-migrant Victory Party, on Tuesday. He is charged with “public incitement to hatred and enmity” related to his role in the anti-migrant unrest in Kayseri province in 2024.
The prosecutor’s office highlighted Ozdag’s provocative statements, which it claims contributed to the violent protests. In July 2024, protests erupted in Kayseri following an alleged child abuse case involving Syrian refugees. The protests saw angry demonstrators raid Syrian-owned shops and set fire to vehicles.
The court cited “concrete evidence” suggesting strong suspicion that Ozdag was involved in the incitement of these actions. However, Ozdag denied the charges, asserting that his party had no involvement in the events in Kayseri.
Ozdag has been sent to Silivri Prison, a facility known for housing political prisoners, where he vowed to continue his fight despite the arrest. Members of his party staged protests outside the courthouse demanding his release.
Ozdag’s legal troubles began earlier when an investigation was launched against him for insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on social media. The investigation was expanded to include charges of inciting public hatred and hostility.
Ozdag, a professor of international relations, began his political career in the far-right Nationalist Movement Party before joining the centre-right Good Party. In 2021, he left the Good Party to form his own group, focusing on anti-migrant views. In the 2023 legislative elections, his Victory Party received 2.3% of the vote, and his presidential candidate, Sinan Ogan, garnered 5.2%, later supporting Erdogan in the second presidential election round.