'Mosque Hack' Case: Former CHP Politician Faces Up to Three Years in Prison

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Banu Özdemir, the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) former deputy-chair in İzmir province, is facing a prison sentence up to three years for sharing videos of mosques blaring a protest song.

On May 21, the song "Bella Ciao" was heard from mosques in several districts of İzmir. While many people shared videos of the incident on social media, the religious authority of the province (mufti) had announced that the incident occurred after its central system for calls to prayers (adhan) was hacked by unknown people.

Özdemir was remanded in custody for one week for "provoking people into enmity and hatred" after she shared the videos. She was released by a penal court of peace on May 29.

The indictment against her says Özdemir's social media username includes the name of a political party (@banuözdemirCHP) and the video she shared "reflected a political view," Cumhuriyet newspaper reported.

After reactions to the first video she shared, she posted another tweet, saying, "Joking aside, we have seen videos that show mosques play Bella Ciao in many districts in İzmir such as Karşıyaka, Konak, Bornova, Buca. Will İzmir Provincial Mufti make an announcement?" the indictment recalled.

"While it was possible that she could condemn the video and not sharing it in the month of Ramadan and on the even of the feast, she did not condemn it but laughed at it," the prosecutor's office argued, charing Özdemir with "provoking people into enmity and hatred."

She is now facing from one up to three years in prison, while those who allegedly hacked the mosques have yet to be found.

The next hearing will be held on September 17. (HA/VK)