Turkish Far-Right Leader Sentenced, Released After Incitement Conviction

Umit Ozdag, leader of Turkey's far-right Victory Party, was released from prison after serving five months for charges related to inciting public hatred and insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Istanbul court sentenced him to over two years in prison for inciting hatred through social media posts, some of which Ozdag said were political criticism from up to eight years ago. His arrest followed accusations that he incited anti-refugee riots in Kayseri in 2022, where violence targeted Syrian migrants. Ozdag, known for his staunch anti-migrant stance and calls for the repatriation of Syrian refugees, denied the charges and claimed his imprisonment was politically motivated to silence him. The case has drawn significant public attention amid a broader crackdown on opposition figures in Turkey, including the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a key rival to Erdogan. The court ordered Ozdag's release, crediting the time he had already served, despite prosecutors originally seeking a longer sentence based on new evidence.