After the fight, the deputy speaker of parliament was forced to announce a three-hour break.
In the Turkish parliament, representatives of the ruling faction attacked an opposition deputy after he called President Erdogan's party “shameless” and demanded the release from prison of his colleague, convicted of organizing anti-government protests.
Reuters reports this.
“Video footage showed lawmakers from the ruling Justice and Development Party rushing to beat Ahmet Şik on the podium, with dozens more joining the fight, some trying to hold others back. Blood splattered the white steps of the speaker's podium,” the publication writes.
The incident occurred during an extraordinary session of parliament, during which lawmakers were to decide the issue of Can Atalay's parliamentary status. Two years ago, Atalay was sentenced to 18 years in prison on charges of trying to overthrow the government by organizing nationwide protests in Gezi Park in 2013. He still denies his guilt.
Despite his imprisonment, Atalay was elected to parliament last May from the Workers' Party of Turkey. After the elections, the parliament stripped him of his mandate, but on August 1, the Constitutional Court declared the parliament's decision invalid.
“We are not surprised that you call Can Atalay a terrorist, like everyone who is not on your side. But the biggest terrorists are sitting in these chairs,” Şik said, criticizing the ruling party MPs.
After the brawl, the deputy speaker of parliament was forced to announce a three-hour break.
Opposition Republican People's Party leader Özgür Özel called the brawl in parliament “a disgrace.”
“Some MPs beat other MPs, even women. This is unacceptable,” Şik said he.
Pro-Kurdish Democratic Party faction chairwoman Gulistan Kociyigit, who was also beaten, said the ruling party was trying to silence the opposition through violence.
Related topics:
More news
