Turkish Parliament Erupts in Brawl Over Jailed Opposition Figure

Turkish Parliament Erupts in Brawl Over Jailed Opposition Figure
Turkish Parliament Erupts in Brawl Over Jailed Opposition Figure

Turkey Parliament Brawl Erupts After Ruling Party Lawmakers Attack Opposition Figure

A brutal brawl broke out in Turkey’s parliament on Friday after lawmakers discussed the fate of a jailed opposition figure, Can Atalay, who was controversially stripped of his parliamentary immunity earlier this year.

Atalay, a lawyer and human rights activist, won his seat last year while campaigning from his prison cell. He was part of the leftist Workers’ Party of Turkey (TIP) and had campaigned for the earthquake-ravaged Hatay province in the May 2023 general election.

However, his election led to a legal standoff between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s supporters and opposition leaders, pushing Turkey to the verge of a constitutional crisis last year. The standoff was sparked by the ruling party’s decision to strip Atalay of his parliamentary seat after a ruling by the Supreme Court of appeals upheld his conviction.

On Friday, Ahmet Sik, a fellow TIP member, defended Atalay against attacks by ruling party lawmakers, saying, “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.” The comment drew angry responses from ruling party lawmakers, prompting the chairman to call a break.

Scuffles broke out after former footballer Alpay Ozalan, a lawmaker from Erdogan’s ruling AKP party, shoved Sik to the ground. Sik was then punched on the ground several times by ruling party lawmakers. At least two opposition MPs were injured during the fistfight, and footage posted online showed the brawl before staff cleaned blood stains from the parliament floor afterwards.

Ozgur Ozel, head of the main opposition CHP party, denounced the violence, saying, “I am ashamed to have witnessed this situation.” The incident highlighted the deep political divisions in Turkey and the ongoing political tensions between the ruling party and the opposition.

In a separate development, Turkey’s constitutional court on August 1 declared Atalay’s removal from parliament as “null and void,” citing constitutional irregularities. The ruling paves the way for Atalay to return to his parliamentary seat, pending a review of the court’s decision.

The brawl in parliament raises concerns about the stability of Turkey’s government and the escalating political tensions in the country.

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