Özdemir, a reporter for Kurtulus, was charged with membership in an illegal organization under Article 168 of the Penal Code. He was last known to be held in Konya Prison.
CPJ has been unable to obtain any court documents in the case. In December 1997, the editor of Kurtulus told CPJ that Özdemir had been released from prison in October 1997 pending the outcome of his trial. CPJ has been unable to verify this report or determine his status.