A brawl broke out between lawmakers in the Turkish parliament on Friday. Ahmet Sik, an opposition figure, was attacked after he called for Can Atalay, who was jailed on charges of organizing anti-government protests but won a seat in parliament, to be allowed to participate.
Footage of the brawl shows MPs from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) moving to hit Ahmet Sik as he stands at the rostrum. Dozens of other MPs then join the brawl, some trying to restrain their colleagues.
Brawl in Turkish parliamentReuters
The recordings show traces of blood on the white steps of the lectern.
“The biggest terrorists are those who sit in these chairs”
Can Atalay was sentenced to 18 years in prison in 2022 after being accused of trying to overthrow the government by allegedly organizing nationwide protests in Gezi Park in 2013 along with philanthropist Osman Kavala, also currently in prison, and six others. All have denied the charges.
Brawl in Turkish parliamentReuters
Despite his imprisonment, Atalay was elected to parliament in May last year to represent the Workers' Party. Turkey (TIP). The parliament stripped him of his mandate, but on August 1 Constitutional Tribunal deemed his exclusion invalid.
“We are not surprised that you call Can Atalay a terrorist, as well as anyone who is not on your side,” Sik said in a speech to AKP lawmakers. “But the biggest terrorists are those who sit in those chairs,” he added. He also called for Atalay's release from prison.
Brawl in Turkish parliamentReuters
After the fights, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament announced a 45-minute break.
Brawls are not uncommon in the Turkish parliament. In June, AKP lawmakers clashed with members of the pro-Kurdish DEM party over the detention and removal of a DEM mayor in southeastern Turkey for alleged links to militants.
Main image source: Reuters