A video published by the newspaper “Cumhuriyet” showed Alpay Özalan, a member of the Islamic conservative ruling AKP party, attacking Ahmet Sik of the Turkish Workers’ Party Tip during a speech slapped.
Sik fell to the ground, whereupon the parliament in Ankara violent brawl broke out.
At least two MPs injured
At least two opposition MPs who tried to break up the scuffle were shot dead, according to Habertürk broadcaster injuredIt was reported that blood could be seen on the floor of Parliament afterwards.
The chairman of the largest opposition party CHP, Özgur Özel, described the incident as “extremely shameful“. Alpay Özalan is a former football player who played for 1. FC Köln.
Session on Can Atalay
Parliament held an extraordinary session on the situation of the Turkish Human rights lawyer Can Atalay Atalay was sentenced to 18 years in prison in April 2022 for aiding and abetting an attempted coup in connection with the anti-government Gezi protests of 2013.
He was elected MP in the parliamentary elections in May 2023. The Constitutional Court ordered Atalay’s release – but the Court of Cassation decided not to implement this.
The verdict against Atalay in the so-called Gezi trial is considered politically motivated and was declared by the European Court of Human Rights as unlawful The Gezi protests of 2013 were also specifically directed against the then Prime Minister and current President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.