Turkish opposition leader fined for insulting historical figure's memory

Erzurum Hınıs Penal Court has fined Zafer Party leader Ümit Özdağ 8,700 Turkish lira for allegedly insulting the memory of Şeyh Said. The court also decided to defer the announcement of the verdict for five years.

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This is not a penalty given to me; it is a penalty given to the Republic of Turkey. A penalty given to our Turkish Armed Forces, to our forces fighting terrorism and suppressing the rebellion.

Özdağ, speaking outside the courthouse, denounced the ruling as unacceptable. He argued that the court's decision implicitly accepts that Şeyh Said's memory is subject to insult, a premise he rejects. Özdağ asserted that the penalty is not directed at him personally but is a judgment against the Turkish Republic, its armed forces, and those who suppressed the 1925 rebellion.

"This is not a penalty given to me; it is a penalty given to the Republic of Turkey. A penalty given to our Turkish Armed Forces, to our forces fighting terrorism and suppressing the rebellion," Özdağ stated. He vowed to continue his legal battle, with his lawyers set to appeal the decision to a higher court.

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This is a political case.

Özdağ characterized the case as political, emphasizing that the core issue is not a personal insult but his and his party's stance against the rebellion led by Şeyh Said. He reiterated his commitment to maintaining this position and evaluating Şeyh Said's historical role accordingly.

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We will continue our legal struggle and our lawyers will file our objection to this penalty with a higher court, the regional court of appeal, in the coming days.