A violent altercation erupted in Turkey’s parliament on Friday during a debate over the fate of jailed opposition figure Can Atalay, who was controversially stripped of his parliamentary immunity earlier this year. The conflict followed a recent decision by the constitutional court, which overturned parliament’s move to expel Atalay from his seat.
Atalay, a lawyer and rights activist, secured his parliamentary seat last year while campaigning from prison. His removal was a significant issue, with his expulsion occurring after the Supreme Court of Appeals upheld his conviction, leading to the stripping of his immunity.
During the session, Ahmet Sik, a member of the leftist Workers’ Party of Turkey (TIP), defended Atalay against criticisms from ruling party lawmakers. Sik’s remarks, which labeled members of the ruling majority as the country’s “biggest terrorists,” sparked a furious response from the AKP party, leading to physical confrontations.
Former footballer Alpay Ozalan, a lawmaker from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s AKP party, confronted Sik, resulting in a scuffle where Sik was shoved to the ground and repeatedly punched by ruling party members. The altercation left at least two opposition MPs injured.
Footage of the brawl circulated online, showing bloodstains on the parliament floor as staff cleaned up afterward. Ozgur Ozel, head of the main opposition CHP party, condemned the violence, expressing shame over the incident.
Atalay’s parliamentary seat was initially revoked in January, despite opposition efforts to prevent the decision. The 48-year-old, who ran for parliament from prison for the earthquake-affected Hatay province in the May 2023 general election, was elected as part of TIP, which holds three seats in parliament.
The legal battle surrounding Atalay’s seat has highlighted ongoing tensions between Erdogan’s supporters and opposition leaders, pushing Turkey to the brink of a constitutional crisis. The constitutional court’s August 1 ruling declared Atalay’s removal from parliament “null and void,” marking a significant setback for the government’s position.
Historically, Turkey’s parliament has frequently lifted immunity from prosecution for opposition politicians, particularly those the government accuses of terrorism.
