Brawl Erupts in Turkish Parliament During Debate on Jailed Colleague

A physical altercation erupted among Turkish lawmakers during a contentious debate on Friday concerning an opposition delegate currently imprisoned under allegations widely viewed as politically motivated.

Footage from the incident captured members of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) attempting to punch Ahmet Sik, a fellow member of parliament from the same party as the detained legislator. This confrontation occurred after Sik labeled the ruling party as a “terrorist organization” while addressing the assembly.

“We’re not surprised that you call Can Atalay a terrorist, just as you label anyone opposed to you in such a manner,” Sik stated during his remarks. He went on to claim, “But the biggest terrorists are the ones seated in this chamber,” referring to the ruling party members.

The chaos quickly spiraled as dozens of deputies became involved in the melee, with some attempting to break up the scuffle. Amid the turmoil, a female lawmaker was injured, leaving blood on the steps leading to the speaker’s lectern. Reports also indicated that another opposition member sustained injuries during the altercation.

“This is a disgraceful situation,” remarked Ozgur Ozel, leader of the largest opposition party. “Instead of exchanging words, fists are flying, and there is blood on the ground. They are striking women.”

Gulistan Kocyigit, the chairwoman of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), who was also struck during the fracas, accused the ruling party of attempting to suppress opposition voices through violence. “It was evident that they came with intent and preparation… They are using pressure, violence, and force to silence us,” Kocyigit commented.

Such physical confrontations are not novel in the Turkish parliament, which has seen instances of lawmakers clashing over political disputes in the past.

The extraordinary session was convened to discuss the situation surrounding Can Atalay, a parliamentary deputy for the Workers’ Party of Turkey, who was elected while imprisoned. Atalay received an 18-year sentence related to his involvement in the anti-government protests of 2013, which challenged Erdogan’s authority when he was still prime minister.

Since being elected, Atalay has been striving to assume his seat in parliament, which would bestow him immunity from prosecution and facilitate his release from prison. He has publicly stated that he intends to return to prison once his term concludes.

Despite securing rulings from the Constitutional Court in his favor, lower courts have disregarded these decisions. This has ignited a judicial crisis, leading Atalay’s supporters to feel a profound sense of injustice. On August 1, the Constitutional Court issued its third ruling supporting Atalay, declaring that the decision to revoke his parliamentary status was “null and void.”

Following this ruling, opposition parties requested a special session to discuss Atalay’s case further.

The convictions of Atalay and several others connected to the Gezi Park protests have drawn substantial criticism from various human rights organizations and legal advocates. The lead defendant, philanthropist Osman Kavala, received a life sentence without the possibility of parole. The European Court of Human Rights has twice advocated for Kavala’s release, labeling his detention as arbitrary and politically motivated.

The Gezi Park protests originated in the summer of 2013, beginning as an environmental initiative aimed at preventing the development of a central park in Istanbul. However, the unrest quickly escalated, attracting widespread participation as discontent with Erdogan’s increasingly authoritarian governance grew.

“The restoration of Atalay’s personal freedom and security, along with his right to elected office, as ruled by the Constitutional Court, should be prioritized,” stated Amnesty International’s Turkish office in a social media communication.

Following the three-hour interruption caused by the confrontation, both Sik and the lawmaker who attacked him were reprimanded by the parliament’s speaker, allowing the session to continue.