Two opposition members of Turkey’s parliament were injured during a session that devolved into a fistfight over a jailed MP who had recently been stripped of his status. The scuffle began when Alpay Özalan, a lawmaker from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and a former professional footballer, physically attacked Ahmet Şık, a deputy from the Workers’ Party of Turkey (TİP), while Şık was delivering a speech.
Footage from the incident, which quickly spread on social media, shows Özalan striking Şık, causing him to fall. As other lawmakers rushed to intervene, a broader fistfight ensued.
The session had been convened to discuss the situation of Can Atalay, a TİP politician who won a seat in the May 2023 elections but remains imprisoned despite rulings from the Constitutional Court calling for his release. Atalay is currently serving an 18-year sentence related to the Gezi Park protests, a 2013 anti-government movement. His trial has been widely criticized as politically motivated.
During his speech, Şık harshly criticized the AKP, accusing its members of being part of what he described as the “biggest terrorist organization” in Turkey. He also referenced comments made by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who had labeled Atalay a “terrorist.” Şık’s remarks provoked an angry response from AKP lawmakers, leading to the violent confrontation.
In the aftermath of the brawl, opposition MPs condemned the violence. CHP leader Özgür Özel called the incident “shameful” and urged Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş to convene an urgent meeting of party leaders to address the situation. Özel highlighted the seriousness of the violence by pointing to the bloodstains left on the parliamentary floor.
Gülistan Koçyiğit, a lawmaker from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), and Okan Konuralp, a member of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), were among those injured while trying to break up the fight. Video footage showed drops of blood on the floor, indicating the severity of the injuries sustained.
The DEM Party issued a strong statement on socialmedia, accusing the AKP of turning the parliament into a “venue of violence” and expressing their determination to continue their political work despite the attacks. Other opposition MPs also took to social media, condemning the incident as a manifestation of “AKP fascism” and a crisis for democracy and the rule of law in Turkey.
Mehmet Emin Ekmen, a lawmaker from the Democracy and Progress Party (DEVA), posted a video showing parliamentary staff cleaning the blood from the floor, lamenting that the stains on Turkish democracy would remain.
The parliamentary session was called to debate the status of Can Atalay after the Constitutional Court declared his removal from parliament “null and void.” Despite two rulings from the Constitutional Court affirming Atalay’s rights, the Supreme Court of Appeals has refused to release him, creating a judicial crisis. The opposition has called for swift action to reinstate Atalay’s status and secure his release.
Atalay, who was stripped of his parliamentary status in January following a contentious session, was elected to represent Hatay province while still behind bars. His case, along with that of other Gezi Park defendants, including businessman Osman Kavala, has become a symbol of the Turkish government’s crackdown on dissent following the 2013 protests.
The extraordinary session in parliament highlighted the deep political divisions in Turkey and the escalating tensions as opposition parties continue to challenge the ruling party’s approach to governance and the rule of law.
