Turkish Parliament Erupts in Chaos: Deputy Attacked Amidst Gezi Park Protest Debate

A violent altercation occurred in Turkey's parliament when opposition deputy Ahmet Sik was attacked after advocating for jailed MP Can Atalay's admission. The confrontation saw MPs from the ruling AKP party rush to punch Sik. The incident underscores the heightened tensions within Turkish politics, especially concerning opposition voices.

A brawl erupted in Turkey's parliament on Friday after opposition deputy Ahmet Sik was attacked while advocating for jailed MP Can Atalay's admission to the assembly. Video footage captured MPs from the ruling AKP party rushing to punch Sik at the lectern, with blood spattering the white steps of the speaker's podium.

Atalay, sentenced to 18 years in 2022 for allegedly organizing anti-government protests, was elected to parliament last May. Although parliament initially stripped him of his seat, the Constitutional Court declared his exclusion null and void on Aug. 1. Sik's remarks further inflamed the situation as he accused AKP lawmakers of labeling all dissenters as terrorists.

Following the melee, parliament reconvened after a more than three-hour recess. In subsequent voting, both Sik and AKP's Alpay Ozalan were reprimanded. Opposition leaders decried the violence, calling it unacceptable. Pro-Kurdish DEM Party group chairwoman Gulistan Kocyigit, who was also punched, criticized the ruling party for attempting to silence opposition through violence.