The Turkish parliament descended into chaos yesterday after video footage showed a fistfight breaking out when an opposition MP called for his imprisoned colleague to be admitted to the assembly in Ankara.
MPs from the ruling Justice & Development Party (AKP) rushed to punch former trade unionist Ahmet Sik who was standing at the lectern.
Dozens more joined the melee, with others being held back from entering the brawl.
Blood splattered across the white steps of the speaker’s podium.
Physical fight erupts in Turkish Parliament after opposition lawmaker demanded inclusion of convicted colleagueREUTERSSerafettin Can Atalay, who was the MP referenced by Sik, was accused of seeking to overthrow Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan by allegedly organising the 2013 Gezi Park protests.
Atalay denies the charges brought against him but is now serving an 18-year prison sentence alongside six others.
Despite his imprisonment, Atalay was elected last year as a Workers’ Party of Turkey MP for Istanbul.
Atalay was able to run in the parliamentary elections because the Court of Cassation had not upheld his conviction at the time.
However, the Turkish Parliament initially stripped him of his seat but the Constitutional Cout later declared his exclusion null and void.
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Turkey’s ruling AK Party (AKP) lawmakers and opposition lawmakers argue during an extraordinary meeting of the Turkish parliament
REUTERS
“We’re not surprised that you call Can Atalay a terrorist, just as you do everyone who does not side with you,” Sik told AKP lawmakers in a speech.
He added: “But the biggest terrorists are the ones sitting in these seats.”
A recess was declared following the brawl, with a three-hour break needed before the session was reconvened.
Sik was reprimanded for his statements against Erdogan’s ruling party and AKP MP Alpay Ozalan was also given a slap on the wrist for his physical assault on Sik.
The main opposition CHP leader Ozgur Ozel said it was “shameful”.
Workers’ Party of Turkey (TIP) lawmaker Ahmet Sik argues with the ruling AK Party (AKP) lawmakers during an extraordinary meeting of the Turkish parliament
REUTERS
“Lawmakers punched other lawmakers, even women,” he added. “This is unacceptable.”
Pro-Kurdish DEM Party chairwoman Gulistan Kocyigit, who was also punched, said the ruling party was trying to silence the opposition by using violence.
She said: “It was clear that they came very prepared and planned… They are trying to silence our speech and our voice with pressure, violence and force.”
However, the Turkish Parliament is not immune to hand-to-hand combat on the chamber floor.
AKP MPs scuffled with pro-Kurdish rivals over the detention and replacement of a DEM Party mayor in southeast Turkey for alleged militant links.