Chaos erupted in Turkey’s parliament as a fistfight broke out between lawmakers on Friday. The incident occurred after an opposition deputy called for his colleague, who had been jailed for organizing anti-government protests but was later elected as an MP, to be allowed into the assembly.
Video footage captured MPs from the ruling AKP party attacking Ahmet Sik at the lectern, with blood staining the speaker’s podium. Atalay, the jailed MP, was sentenced to 18 years for allegedly attempting to overthrow the government by organizing protests in 2013.
Despite being imprisoned, Atalay was elected to parliament in 2023, a decision that was initially revoked but later reinstated by the Constitutional Court. The session was disrupted by the brawl but resumed after a three-hour break, with reprimands issued to both parties involved.
The altercation was condemned by opposition leaders, with accusations of the ruling party using violence to silence dissent. The TIP called for Atalay’s release, highlighting the ongoing political tensions in the country.
While rare, brawls in the Turkish parliament have occurred before, underscoring the deep divisions within the political landscape.
© Thomson Reuters 2024.