Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Factions' statement: The attendees agreed to support and continue implementing the ceasefire agreement measures, including the withdrawal of the occupation and lifting the siege.
Factions' statement: Calling for an end to all forms of torture and violations against prisoners in occupation prisons and the necessity of obligating the occupation to do so.
Statement: The current moment is crucial, making the meeting a true turning point toward national unity in defense of our people and their right to life, dignity, and freedom.
Factions' statement: Call for an urgent meeting of all Palestinian forces and factions to agree on a national strategy.
Factions' statement: Continuing joint work to unify visions and positions to confront the challenges facing the Palestinian cause.
Statement of the factions: Emphasis on the unity of the Palestinian political system and the independent national decision.
Statement: Approval to establish an international committee to oversee the financing and implementation of the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
Statement: The committee is responsible for managing life and services in cooperation with Arab brothers and international institutions, based on transparency and accountability.
Resistance factions' statement: Agreement to hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to a temporary Palestinian committee of independent technocrats.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two people martyred in the Israeli airstrike that targeted a vehicle in Toul.

Turkish parliament debate turns into fistfight

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 17 Aug 2024 22:20
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

MP Alpay Ozalan of the ruling Justice and Development party (AKP) attacked MP Ahmet Sik of the socialist Workers' Party of Türkiye (TIP) for criticizing the government's handling of the issue of MP Can Atalay, causing parliamentary uproar.

Listen
  • x
  • An image of the brawl that broke out in the Turkish Parliament on August 16, 2024. (AFP)
    An image of the brawl that broke out in the Turkish Parliament on August 16, 2024. (AFP)

On Friday, dozens of politicians got into a fistfight in Turkiye's parliament over a detained opposition member who was deprived of his parliamentary immunity earlier this year.

The session was suspended after a 30-minute scuffle that wounded at least two MPs. Deputies ultimately returned for a vote, which rejected an opposition bid to reinstate lawyer Can Atalay's parliamentary mandate.

Atalay won his seat in an election last year by campaigning from his jail cell.

Alpay Ozalan of the ruling Justice and Development party (AKP) attacked Ahmet Sik of the socialist Workers' Party of Turkiye (TIP) for criticizing the government's handling of Atalay, causing parliamentary uproar.

“It’s no surprise that you call Atalay a terrorist,” Sik stated, adding, “All citizens should know that the biggest terrorists of this country are those seated on those benches," hinting to the majority.

According to an AFP journalist, Ozalan, a former footballer, approached the rostrum and threw Sik to the ground.

🇹🇷| A brawl broke out in the Turkish parliament, an AKP MP attacked an MP from the Workers' Party of Turkey after grabbing him by the neck. pic.twitter.com/GYjtTWAjn5

— Eternal Glory (@EternalGlory0) August 16, 2024

Sik received many punches from AKP legislators while on the ground as dozens joined to throw punches.

Related News

Turkish court acquits suspended Istanbul Mayor in corruption case

Turkmen gas supplies to Turkey suspended indefinitely: Turkmengaz

Washing blood stains from the floor

Footage uploaded online shows the incident, followed by personnel washing blood stains from the parliament floor. A deputy from the Republican People's Party (CHP) and another from the Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM) party were injured in the head.

Ozgur Ozel, the chairman of the major opposition CHP, condemned the violence, saying he was "ashamed" to have witnessed it. 

The parliamentary speaker stated that the two MPs who started the incident will face sanctions.

Atalay was removed from his position during an acrimonious parliamentary session in January, despite pleas by other members to postpone the proceedings.

He is one of seven convicts condemned to 18 years in prison in 2022 after a contentious trial that also resulted in the life sentence of award-winning philanthropist Osman Kavala.

Atalay, 48, ran for a parliamentary seat in the earthquake-ravaged Hatay province in the May 2023 election from prison, and was elected as member of the leftist TIP, which has three parliament seats.

Last year, a judicial impasse between supporters of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and opposition leaders threatened Turkiye's constitutional order.

Parliament's decision to remove Atalay in January followed a verdict by the Supreme Court of Appeal that affirmed his conviction, paving the door for the removal of his parliamentary immunity.

However, on August 1, the constitutional court, which assesses whether judges' verdicts fit with Turkish basic law, declared Atalay's expulsion as a member of parliament "null and void."

  • Turkey
  • turkish parliament
  • Turkiye

Most Read

From previous scenes of the Qassam Brigades targeting an Israeli D9 bulldozer with a Yassin 105 shell, east of Deir al-Balah. (Military Media of the Qassam Brigades)

US knew fatal Rafah blast cause was not Hamas op., says journalist

  • Politics
  • 20 Oct 2025
'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Flags of Iran, Russia, and China (IRNA)
Politics

Russia, China, Iran send joint letter to IAEA on Resolution 2231 end

Rubio says UNRWA to play no role in Gaza aid deliveries
Politics

Rubio says UNRWA to play no role in Gaza aid deliveries

Tents are seen at UN school used as a shelter for displaced Palestinians in Khan Younis, Tuesday, September 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
Politics

UN warns of 'lost generation' amid Gaza education crisis

x
Politics

White House pushes to repeal US sanctions on Syria: Report

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS