Chaos unfolded in the Turkish Grand National Assembly on Friday as a contentious debate over the detention of an opposition lawmaker escalated into a physical altercation.
The incident erupted when Ahmet Sik, a member of the same party as the imprisoned deputy, was attacked by a member of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling party during a heated parliamentary session. Sik, who had just labeled the ruling party as a “terrorist organization,” was confronted and assaulted at the podium.
Televised footage revealed a chaotic scene as multiple deputies became embroiled in the skirmish. Blood was reportedly spilled on the steps leading to the speaker's lectern, with a female lawmaker among those injured. Such physical confrontations are not unusual in Turkey's turbulent political environment.
Ozgur Ozel, leader of the main opposition party, denounced the violence, calling it “shameful.” “Instead of engaging in dialogue, we see fists flying and blood on the ground. This is unacceptable,” Ozel stated, condemning the assault on female lawmakers.
The session, convened to discuss the case of Can Atalay, a parliamentary deputy elected from prison, was marred by the violence. Atalay, who has been serving an 18-year sentence for his involvement in the 2013 anti-government protests, has been fighting for his parliamentary seat. His election to the Workers’ Party of Turkey (TIP) was seen as a means to secure parliamentary immunity and eventually his release from Marmara prison, though he has pledged to return to prison upon completion of his term.
Despite favorable rulings from the Constitutional Court, which declared Atalay’s removal from parliament “null and void” on August 1, lower courts have ignored these decisions, fueling frustration among Atalay’s supporters. The court rulings have sparked a broader judicial crisis and criticism from human rights groups.
The Gezi Park protests, which began in 2013 as an environmental campaign, evolved into a broader challenge to Erdogan’s regime, resulting in severe legal consequences for key figures like Osman Kavala, who received a life sentence without parole. The European Court of Human Rights has called for Kavala's release, citing arbitrary detention and political motives.
Amnesty International has emphasized that Atalay’s rights, as identified by the Constitutional Court, should be restored.
Following a three-hour recess, the session resumed, with both the involved deputies receiving reprimands from the parliamentary speaker.
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