Turkish MPs Throw Punches, Woman Lawmaker Slapped In Parliament. Lawmakers in the Turkish parliament threw punches and drew blood, marking an all-time low for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan-led government. Friday’s heated debate over a jailed opposition member (Can Atalay) turned physical when a lawmaker from AK Party attacked Ahmet Sik, a member of the Workers’ Party of Turkey.
Fight In Turkish Parliament
Sik said it’s not surprising that the ruling party called Atalay a terrorist because it does with whoever doesn’t agree with the AKP. Atalay, a member of the Grand National Assembly, was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment in 2022 for objecting to Erdogan’s rule and anti-government protests. Sik pointed out that the biggest terrorists are the ones sitting in the seats. And this resulted in a brawl.
Even female MPs bore the brunt of the chaos, whereby one was punched. Alpay Ozalan, a retired footballer turned politician, shoved Sik to the ground. The MP was punched and kicked several times by AKP members.
Ozgur Ozel, the head of the main opposition CHP, condemned the violence in the Turkish parliament. He called it shameful that fists are flying instead of words. Ozel highlighted that women were being punched and blood on the floor.