A heated debate in Turkey’s parliament erupted into chaos on Friday, August 16, 2024, as dozens of lawmakers engaged in a physical brawl, leading to injuries and bloodstains on the floor.
The altercation began after Ahmet Şık, an MP from the leftist Workers’ Party of Turkey (TIP), labeled the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) as “terrorists” during a discussion about imprisoned opposition deputy Can Atalay.
“It’s no surprise that you call Atalay a terrorist,” Şık stated, adding, “All citizens should know that the biggest terrorists of this country are those seated on those benches,” referring to the ruling majority.
The situation escalated when AKP member Alpay Ozalan, a former footballer, confronted Şık and shoved him to the ground, leading to a full-blown fight involving dozens of MPs. Televised footage showed staff later cleaning bloodstains from the parliament floor.
Two lawmakers, including a deputy from the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and one from the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) party, suffered head injuries during the scuffle. Özgür Özel, the head of the main opposition CHP, condemned the violence, stating, “I am ashamed to have witnessed this situation.”
The extraordinary session, initially called to address the case of Can Atalay, was suspended due to the 30-minute brawl. Atalay, who was stripped of his parliamentary immunity earlier this year, has been serving an 18-year sentence following a controversial trial related to the 2013 Gezi Park protests.
Despite a Constitutional Court ruling on 1 August declaring Atalay’s removal from parliament “null and void,” the ruling AKP and its ally, the Nationalist Movement Party, united to defeat an opposition motion to restore his parliamentary mandate. The session’s abrupt end leaves Atalay’s fate uncertain as Turkey grapples with a growing political and judicial crisis.
