site.btaOpposition Leader in Turkiye Arrested for Inciting Hatred

A court in Istanbul ordered the opposition Victory Party leader Ümit Özdağ to be held in custody on Tuesday. He was arrested on Monday in Ankara while dining in a restaurant.

The charge against Özdağ is for "openly inciting hatred and hostility among the public" for his statement against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during a meeting with the district leaders of the Victory Party.

He is known for being the main campaigner for the return of Syrian refugees from Turkiye.

The Victory Party is nationalist and opposes the release of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan from prison. In the last elections, it won 2.23% of the vote and failed to enter parliament.