Deputies from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) physically attacked an opposition MP today during an extraordinary meeting called to discuss the recent Constitutional Court decision on the status of Hatay MP Can Atalay.

The session, which took place after the top court ruled that Atalay's removal from parliament was unconstitutional and “null and void,” saw tensions escalate when Ahmet Şık, an MP from Atalay’s Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP), took to the floor. 

During his speech, Şık sharply criticized the ruling party, accusing them of lacking integrity. "You have no shame. You have no dignity," Şık said. His remarks were met with uproar from AKP members, leading to a brief suspension of the session by Deputy Speaker Bekir Bozdağ.

The situation further deteriorated when AKP İzmir MP Alpay Özalan, a former footballer known for previous altercations in parliament, charged at Şık and physically assaulted him at the rostrum. Özalan was soon joined by other deputies from the ruling party.

Video showing the moments of the attack:

🔴 AKP'li Alpay Özalan'ın TİP İstanbul Milletvekili Ahmet Şık'a saldırı anı pic.twitter.com/qB5t9MaHrW

— bianet (@bianet_org) August 16, 2024

The altercation also left Gülistan Koçyiğit, a member of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party, injured. She sustained a cut above her eyebrow.

Another video released by TİP deputy Sera Kadıgil:

https://t.co/bPMwYMI4sq

— Sera Kadıgil (@serakadigil) August 16, 2024

The extraordinary session was attended by leaders of several opposition parties, including DEM Co-Chairs Tuncer Bakırhan and Tulay Hatimoğulları, and İYİ Party Chair Müsavat Dervişoğlu. The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) did not participate in the meeting.

The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel, who had recently injured his foot, attended the session with a visible orthopedic support.

Reactions to the attack

Opposition parties strongly condemned the assault by AKP deputies. The DEM Party released a statement on social media, saying, "AKP deputies, who disregard the law, refuse to implement Constitutional Court decisions, and turn the Parliament into an arena of violence, continue to push the limits of vandalism.

"We strongly condemn this attack, which relied on numerical superiority to assault opposition MPs and injured the eyebrow of our Deputy Group Chair, Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit. No attack will deter us from doing politics for the people and defending the truth!"

CHP Chair Özgür Özel also voiced criticism, saying, "If blood is being shed in Parliament, what can the citizens do? This is disgraceful. There is blood on the floor, and they are hitting women. I am incredibly ashamed to have witnessed this situation.

"I urge Numan Kurtulmuş to immediately call a meeting of all party leaders or group chairpersons. This is no longer a burden the Parliament can bear."

(VK)