Lawmakers Clash During Heated Debate
On Friday, Turkey’s parliament descended into chaos as a brawl broke out among lawmakers debating the status of Can Atalay, a jailed opposition deputy who had been stripped of his parliamentary immunity earlier this year. The 30-minute altercation, which saw at least two legislators injured, forced a suspension of the hearing.
Atalay’s Imprisonment Sparks Controversy
The confrontation erupted after Alpay Ozalan, a member of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), physically assaulted Ahmet Sik of the leftist Workers’ Party of Turkey (TIP). Sik had criticized the government’s handling of Atalay’s case, who won his parliamentary seat from prison in the May 2023 elections, “It’s no surprise that you call Atalay a terrorist, All citizens should know that the biggest terrorists of this country are those seated on those benches,” Sik added. Ozalan’s attack on Sik led to a broader clash involving numerous lawmakers.
Parliamentary Response and Legal Implications
Footage of the brawl, which included images of bloodstains on the floor, highlighted the intensity of the conflict. One deputy from both the parties- Republican People’s party (CHP) and Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) party has suffered head injuries. The parliamentary speaker announced that disciplinary actions would be taken against the two deputies who instigated the violence. Atalay, who has been serving an 18-year prison sentence since 2022, had his parliamentary mandate revoked earlier this year, but a recent constitutional court ruling deemed his removal invalid. Atalay is one of seven defendants sentenced in 2022 to 18 years in prison following a controversial trial. On Friday, AKP and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) deputies united to defeat the opposition’s attempt to reinstate Atalay’s parliamentary seat. This has pushed Turkey on the verge of a constitutional crisis last year, showcasing the ongoing political turmoil in Turkey.