Prosecutors in the capital city of Ankara are investigating Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy Ali Mahir Başarır for "openly degrading the government and the military organization" over his remarks during a TV program.
Başarır on Nov. 28 slammed a contract signed last year with military vehicle producer BMC, a joint Turkish-Qatari venture, for the mass production of the Altay tank.
"We are at a point that the state's army is sold to Qatar in a first in the country's history," Başarır said in a program on Habertürk TV, referring to the Tank and Pallet Factory.
His comments immediately drew ire from the pro-government guests of the show, who denied that the factory represents the Turkish army.
Başarır's remarks came after Turkey and Qatar signed 10 new deals on Nov. 26 at a joint meeting held at the presidential palace in Ankara.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Qatar's Emir Tamim Hamad al-Thani co-chaired the meeting, which was slammed by the opposition for being held behind closed doors.
The 10 percent sale of shares of Turkey's stock exchange Borsa Istanbul topped the list of agreements made during the day. With the latest meeting, the total number of agreements between the two countries has risen to 62.
The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on Nov. 29 launched a probe into Başarır over "humiliating the Turkish government and the army" following a series of harsh statements from government officials.