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Chaos in Turkish parliament as MPs fight over jailed colleague

Altercation left multiple MPs injured, including a female lawmaker, with bloodstains visible on speaker’s podium steps

Reuters/News Desk August 17, 2024

Turkiye's AK Party lawmaker Alpay Ozalan scuffles with Workers' Party of Turkiye (TIP) lawmaker Ahmet Sik, who was speaking during an extraordinary meeting of the Turkish parliament to discuss jailed opposition lawmaker Can Atalay's return to the assembly, in Ankara, Turkiye on August 16, 2024.Photo Reuters

ANKARA:

A brawl erupted in the Turkish parliament on Friday during a heated debate concerning an opposition delegate currently imprisoned on charges widely seen as politically motivated.

The altercation began when opposition deputy Ahmet Sık was attacked after calling for the admission of his colleague, Can Atalay, who had been jailed for allegedly organising anti-government protests in 2013. Despite his imprisonment, Atalay was elected to parliament last year as a member of the Workers' Party of Turkey (TIP). Parliament had stripped him of his seat, but the Constitutional Court declared this decision invalid on August 1.

Sık, representing the same party as Atalay, criticised the ruling AKP party, labekling its members as a "terrorist organisation." His remarks led to an aggressive response, with AKP lawmakers rushing to the podium and physically assaulting Sık. The scuffle involved dozens of MPs, resulting in injuries, including to a female lawmaker, and leaving bloodstains on the speaker’s podium steps.

Atalay was sentenced to 18 years in prison in 2022, accused of attempting to overthrow the government by allegedly orchestrating the 2013 Gezi Park protests, alongside philanthropist Osman Kavala and others. All have denied the charges, and the case has drawn significant criticism from human rights groups, with the European Court of Human Rights calling for Kavala’s release.

The extraordinary parliamentary session was convened to discuss Atalay's situation, as his election to parliament grants him immunity from prosecution. However, lower courts have ignored rulings in his favor, exacerbating the sense of injustice among his supporters.

Amnesty International has called for Atalay’s rights to be restored, including his personal freedom and his right to serve as an elected MP. The timeline for the resumption of the parliamentary session remains unclear.