Wat-Not Staff
Punches were thrown in the Turkish Parliament on Friday during a heated discussion about jailed opposition leader Can Atalay. Earlier this year, his parliamentary immunity was revoked, but Turkey’s constitutional court recently overturned the decision to remove him from his seat.
The Brawl In Turkish Parliament
A debate in Turkey’s parliament on Friday turned into a physical fight, leaving three Members of Parliament (MPs) injured.
This incident highlights the deep political tensions in the country as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling party, the Justice and Development Party (AKP), clashes with an increasingly strong opposition.
The fight started when Ahmet Şık, an opposition MP, criticized AKP members, accusing them of having “no dignity.” In response, Alpay Özalan, an AKP MP, physically attacked Şık, sparking a broader brawl that resulted in minor injuries to three MPs.
The fight occurred during a special parliamentary session about Can Atalay, an opposition MP who was sentenced to 18 years in prison for his alleged role in the 2013 Gezi Park protests, a significant challenge to Erdoğan’s rule. Despite being elected as an MP in May 2023, Atalay remains in prison, which has drawn criticism from the opposition and is seen as another step toward autocracy by Erdoğan’s government.
Tensions have also led to violence outside of parliament, including a fight in June following the government’s arrest of a pro-Kurdish mayor and the appointment of their candidate in his place. The political climate in Turkey remains volatile, with growing unrest both in parliament and across society.
Can Atalay
Şerafettin Can Atalay is a Turkish lawyer, activist, and politician. He has represented many significant social cases in Turkey, including the Soma mine disaster, the 2016 Adana student dormitory fire, and the Gezi Park protests.
In 2022, Atalay was sentenced to 18 years in prison due to his involvement in the Gezi Park protests, where he defended Taksim Solidarity, a group opposing the construction of a shopping mall in the park. Despite his imprisonment, he was elected as a member of parliament for Hatay province in the 2023 elections for the Workers’ Party of Turkey.
In 2022, Atalay was convicted of attempting to overthrow the government during the Gezi Park protests, leading to his 18-year prison sentence. Despite this, he continues to serve as a member of parliament, representing the Hatay province while incarcerated in Marmara Prison.
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