Brawl erupts in Turkish parliament during deliberations over imprisoned opposition leader
Video recordings captured AKP party MPs hastily charging towards Ahmet Sik, a TIP party member, at the podium, with numerous other individuals subsequently engaging in a chaotic brawl. The speaker's podium was marked by splatters of blood.
Can Atalay was sentenced to 18 years behind bars in 2022, following allegations of attempting to dismantle the government by orchestrating the countrywide Gezi Park protests of 2013, alongside Osman Kavala, who is also currently incarcerated, and six other individuals. All parties involved have refuted these claims.
Despite these charges and imprisonment, Atalay was elected as TIP's parliamentary representative in May of the preceding year. However, parliament decided to rescind his position. On August 1st, the Constitutional Court nullified this decision.
"It's no surprise that you label Can Atalay as a terrorist, just as you do anyone who isn't aligned with you," Sik retorted towards AKP parliamentarians during a speech.
"But the true terrorists are the ones sitting in these seats," he further declared.
Following the fisticuffs, the deputy parliament speaker announced a 45-minute break.
The TIP also advocated for Atalay's release from prison.
While uncommon, physical altercations have occurred in Turkey's parliament on occasion. In June, a scuffle ensued between AKP and DEM Party MPs over the detention and replacement of a DEM Party mayor in southeast Turkey, who was allegedly associated with militant activities.
The TIP party strongly denounced the violent incident at the podium and called for peace and unity in the midst of the Middleeast's political turmoil, which was mirroring the world's ongoing geopolitical tensions. After the chaotic brawl, international human rights organizations expressed concern about the state of democracy in the world, highlighting Turkey as a case study.
