Brawl in Turkish parliament over ousted MP

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AANKARA – Dozens of lawmakers became embroiled in a fisticuffs brawl in Turkey’s parliament 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 Ozalan launched into Ahmet Sik, 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,” he said.
“All citizens should know that the biggest terrorists of this country are those seated on those benches,” he added, indicating the ruling majority.
Ozalan, a former footballer, walked to the rostrum and shoved Sik to the ground, said an AFP journalist in parliament.
Whilst on the ground, Sik 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.
Ozgur Ozel, head of the main opposition CHP party, denounced the violence.
“I am ashamed to have witnessed this situation,” he added.
The parliament speaker said the two deputies at the origin of the brawl would be sanctioned.