There was a huge uproar in Turkey’s parliament on Friday following a heated argument over an opposition lawmaker who is currently detained on charges widely seen as politically motivated.

Television videos and social media showed Ahmet Sik, a lawmaker from the same party as the arrested lawmaker, being attacked and assaulted by a member of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling party while speaking at the podium in the hall. Sik had recently described the ruling party as a “terrorist organization.”

In the ensuing brawl, in which numerous MPs were involved, one MP was beaten. The steps to the lectern in Parliament were stained with blood. Another member of the opposition is also said to have been injured.

Physical confrontations are not uncommon among Turkish MPs.

“It is a shameful situation,” said Özgür Özel, leader of the largest opposition party. “Instead of words flying through the air, fists are flying, there is blood on the ground. They are beating women.”

A fight in the Turkish parliament#Turkey pic.twitter.com/qrFg9UGip3

— Karina Karapetyan (@KarinaKarapety8) 16 August 2024

Why did the fight happen?

The Grand National Assembly of Turkey has been convened for an extraordinary session to discuss the situation of Can Atalay, who was elected as a member of parliament for the Workers’ Party of Turkey (TIP) from a prison sentence in last year’s elections.

Atalay had been sentenced to 18 years in prison the previous year for his participation in anti-government protests in 2013 against the rule of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, then Turkish Prime Minister.

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Since his election, Atalay has been fighting for his parliamentary seat, which would grant him immunity from prosecution and his release from Marmara Prison. He has stated that he intends to return to prison after his term expires.

Although the Constitutional Court made favorable decisions, they were ignored by lower courts, leading to a judicial crisis and fueling a sense of injustice among its supporters.

In its third ruling in Atalay’s favor, the Constitutional Court declared on August 1 that the decision to strip him of his parliamentary status was “null and void.”

The opposition parties then called for a special session to discuss the case.