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Türkiye's chief prosecutor has launched a criminal investigation into opposition leader Ozgur Ozel over remarks targeting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, authorities announced Monday.
The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office initiated the probe against Ozel, leader of the opposition party CHP, on charges of "insulting the president," "publicly inciting criminal acts," and "insulting and threatening public officials in connection with their duties."
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The investigation stems from comments Ozel made during a press conference following his party's Central Executive Committee meeting on July 5. The prosecutor's office acted on its own initiative, known as "ex officio" proceedings, rather than responding to a formal complaint.
The CHP had convened the Central Executive Committee meeting in response to what Ozel described as the detention of three mayors, though the specific details of these detentions were not elaborated upon in the original statements.
Ozel had delivered what observers described as unusually harsh rhetoric during the party gathering. Journalist Gurkan Hacir, speaking on TGRT television, noted that Ozel used "words he had never used before" in his criticism of the government.
"Ozgur Ozel made quite a harsh speech," Hacir said. "Especially in the process that began with the detention of three mayors. Some of Ozel's words were ones he had never used until today."
Hacir added that news of the investigation had been received and required time to verify: "We received this news a couple of hours ago, but it took time for us to confirm it. An ex officio investigation has been launched against Ozel."
The CHP leader's controversial remarks included a direct challenge to Erdogan during the press conference at the party's headquarters. "I know the day I will invite [people] to the streets," Ozel had said. "Think about what state you will be in that day, but don't make me invite this nation to the streets."
Ozel also issued what appeared to be an election challenge, stating, "I'm waiting for whoever has the courage on November 2 for an election. I'm waiting for whoever says 'I am the first party' for an election."
The timing and context of these remarks came after the Central Executive Committee meeting, suggesting they were part of a coordinated party response to recent political developments involving the detained mayors.
The investigation follows another incident where Ozel made inflammatory comments about Erdogan during a public appearance in Istanbul's Sarachane district. Speaking from atop a bus to a crowd gathered outside the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality building, Ozel referred to Erdogan as a "junta leader" rather than president.
"We are standing behind President Ekrem and our friends. We stand behind them like a rock," Ozel had said, referring to jailed ex-Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. "Every coup has a junta at its head. This coup also has three prosecutors, three judges, three secret witnesses, and slanderers. And at the head of this coup is a president, a junta leader."
Ozel continued his remarks with direct reference to Erdogan: "The person whom the nation elected as president in the past and gave authority to, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is no longer president but a junta leader."
The charges against Ozel carry potential prison sentences under Turkish law. Insulting the president is a criminal offense in Türkiye, punishable by up to four years in prison under Article 299 of the Turkish Penal Code. The additional charges of publicly inciting criminal acts and insulting public officials carry their own potential penalties.
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