<
https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/aug/17/turkey-parliament-descends-into-chaos-as-dozens-of-mps-take-part-in-fistfight>
"Dozens of lawmakers became embroiled in a fisticuffs brawl in Turkey’s
parliament on Friday as they argued over a jailed opposition deputy stripped of
his parliamentary immunity this year.
The 30-minute ruckus, which left at least two lawmakers injured, forced the
suspension of the hearing. Deputies eventually returned for a vote that
rejected an opposition move to restore the parliamentary mandate of lawyer and
rights activist Can Atalay.
Atalay won his seat in an election last year after campaigning from his prison
cell.
The parliamentary turmoil erupted after ruling Justice and Development party
(AKP) member Alpay Özalan launched into Ahmet Şık, a member of the leftist
Workers’ party of Turkey (TIP), who had condemned the government’s treatment of
Atalay.
“It’s no surprise that you call Atalay a terrorist,” Şık said.
“All citizens should know that the biggest terrorists of this country are those
seated on those benches,” he added, indicating the ruling majority.
Özalan, a former footballer, walked to the rostrum and shoved Şık to the
ground, said an Agence France-Presse journalist in parliament.
While on the ground, Şık was punched several times by AKP lawmakers. Dozens of
lawmakers joined the fight.
Footage posted online showed the brawl and then staff cleaning blood stains
from the parliament floor. A deputy from the Republican People’s party (CHP)
and one from the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) party suffered head
injuries.
Özgür Özel, head of the main opposition CHP, denounced the violence.
“I am ashamed to have witnessed this situation,” he added."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
