Yet another brawl erupts in Turkish Parliament as ruling AKP lawmakers attack opposition

Duvar English

Turkey's parliament was the scene of a massive brawl between lawmakers once again on Aug. 16.

The parliament was holding an extraordinary session during its recess to discuss jailed Can Atalay's status following the Constitutional Court decision that found the decision to strip his lawmaker status unlawful.

The brawl erupted when Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP) lawmaker Ahmet Şık was speaking. Atalay was also elected as a TİP lawmaker in the 2023 election, but his lawmaker status was stripped for being convicted in the Gezi Park case despite several Constitutional Court rulings.

Şık was saying “There was a procedural debate, but there is no need to talk about procedure here. Because in this country where unconstitutionality prevails and lawlessness has become customary, I am not going to explain the legislation to you. Traitor, separatist, FETÖ member, terrorist are the words we hear the most from you, who are fooled by your religious charlatanism, your token nationalism, who consider those who turn a blind eye to your theft and lawlessness as acceptable citizens. Since you call everyone who is not one of you a terrorist, it is not surprising that you also call Can Atalay a terrorist. But everyone should know that the biggest terrorist organization in this country is the dynasty that has collapsed the state and those sitting in these seats. The sum total of all of you is not as useful to this country as one Can Atalay.”

The ruling AKP lawmakers, led by Alpay Özalan, rushed to the rostrum, while Özalan attacked Şık. 

While two opposition lawmakers, Gülüstan Koçyiğit and Okan Konuralp, were injured, blood stains were seen on the Parliament floor. During the brawl, the ruling party lawmakers gashed Koçyiğit’s eyebrow.

After the brawl started, Bekir Bozdağ, Deputy Speaker from the AKP, left the parliamentary council.

Ahmet Şık was reprimanded for his remarks and Alpay Özalan for his actions by the Parliament.

The scenes stirred a huge reaction. 

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel said, “(If this happens in the Parliament,) what will the citizens do? This is really very shameful. Punches are flying, kicks are flying in a place where words should be flying in the air. There is blood on the floor. They are hitting women. They are hitting women in front of our eyes.”

“AKP MPs, who do not recognize the law, do not implement the Constitutional Court's decisions and turn the Parliament into an arena of violence, once again know no bounds in vandalism. We condemn in the strongest terms this aggression,” the opposition DEM Party said.

Meanwhile, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Chief Advisor Ahmet Selim Köroğlu praised the violent attack in a social media post.

“This is the Parliament, not a circus, if you insult, you will get your answer. Osman Kavala, Selahattin Demirtaş, and Can Atalay are terrorists,” he praised Özalan.

Social media figures and opposition politicians called on Özalan to resign.

Meanwhile, Can Atalay's lawyers stated that the television broadcast of the Parliament in his prison was cut short right after the brawl started.