Official Turkish government announcements and news reports

Brawl Erupts in Turkish Parliament as Alpay Özalan Attacks Ahmet Şık Over Jailed MP

Aug 16, 2024, 06:15 PM

A violent brawl erupted in the Turkish Parliament on Friday during an extraordinary session discussing the release of jailed opposition MP Can Atalay. The altercation began when Alpay Özalan, a member of the ruling AK Party, attacked opposition MP Ahmet Şık. The session was originally convened to address the imprisonment of Atalay, who was jailed on charges of organizing anti-government protests but has since been elected as an MP. The fight resulted in injuries to three MPs, including Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit from the Democratic Regions Party. The incident highlights the intense political tensions within Turkey's legislative body.