A chaotic scene unfolded in Turkey’s parliament on Friday as lawmakers engaged in a physical brawl over the fate of jailed opposition deputy Can Atalay. The altercation, which resulted in injuries to at least two legislators, led to the suspension of proceedings before a vote ultimately rejected a move to restore Atalay’s parliamentary mandate.
The violence erupted after Alpay Ozalan, a member of the ruling AK party, attacked Ahmet Sik, a member of the leftist Workers’ party of Turkey, who had criticized the government’s treatment of Atalay. The scuffle quickly escalated, with multiple lawmakers getting involved and the session being temporarily halted.
Atalay, a lawyer and rights activist, had been stripped of his seat earlier in the year following a controversial trial that resulted in his conviction and sentencing to 18 years in prison. Despite campaigning from behind bars and winning a seat in the parliament, his status remained a point of contention between supporters of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and opposition leaders.
The brawl in parliament, which was captured on video, resulted in condemnation from opposition leaders and calls for sanctions against the instigators of the violence. The incident highlighted the ongoing political tensions in Turkey, where the ruling party and opposition factions continue to clash over issues such as parliamentary immunity and the treatment of dissenting voices.
Ultimately, the rejection of the opposition motion to reinstate Atalay’s mandate underscored the deep divide in Turkish politics and the ongoing challenges facing the country’s democracy.
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