Bloodshed in Turkish parliament during brawl between government and opposition MPs
In summary:
There were fights between dozens of politicians in the Turkish parliament.
The brawl was triggered by an opposition MP calling the government “terrorists” following a debate about an imprisoned MP.
What happens next?
After the brawl ended, Parliament adjourned for three hours. Many MPs expressed their remorse over the brawl, which left the floor of Parliament awash in blood.
On Friday, a brawl broke out in the Turkish parliament between opposition and government MPs over a demand to allow an imprisoned MP access to the assembly.
Video footage showed lawmakers from the ruling AKP party rushing to beat opposition leader Ahmet Sik at the lectern, and dozens more joining in a brawl, with some trying to hold the others back.
Blood splatters wet the white steps of the lectern.
Mr Sik had called for the release of fellow MP Can Atalay, who was sentenced to 18 years in prison in 2022 on charges of attempting to overthrow the government.
Mr Atalay is said to have organised the nationwide Gezi Park protests in 2013 together with the now also imprisoned philanthropist Osman Kavala and six other people, all of whom deny the allegations.
Despite his imprisonment, Mr Atalay was elected to parliament in May last year as a representative of the Workers’ Party of Turkey (TIP).
Parliament stripped him of his seat, but on August 1 the Constitutional Court declared his exclusion null and void.
“We are not surprised that you call Can Atalay a terrorist, just as you do not call anyone who is not on your side,” Mr Sik said in a speech to AKP MPs.
“But the biggest terrorists are sitting in these seats,” he added, triggering the brawl.
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament declared a recess after the brawl.
After a break of more than three hours, the session continued, this time under the chairmanship of the President of Parliament and not his deputy.
In a vote, Parliament reprimanded Mr Sik for his comments against the AKP and AKP MP Alpay Ozalan was also reprimanded for his physical attack on the opposition MP.
The main opposition leader of the CHP called this “shameful”.
“MPs have beaten other MPs, even women. This is unacceptable,” CHP chairman Özgür Özel told reporters.
Gulistan Kocyigit, the leader of the pro-Kurdish DEM party, who was also defeated, said the ruling party was trying to silence the opposition with violence.
“It was clear that they had come very well prepared and planned… They are trying to silence our speech and our voice with pressure, violence and coercion,” Ms Kocyigit said.
The TIP also called for the release of Mr Atalay from prison.
Although fights are rare in the Turkish parliament, they are not uncommon.
In June, clashes broke out between AKP MPs and pro-Kurdish DEM party MPs over the arrest and dismissal of a DEM party mayor in southeastern Turkey because of alleged links to militant groups.
Reuters
