Brawl in Turkish parliament over ousted MP
The Hindu
Lawmakers brawl in Turkish parliament over jailed opposition figure stripped of immunity in controversial decision.
A brawl broke out in Turkey's parliament Friday (August 16, 2024) after lawmakers discussed the fate of a jailed Opposition figure controversially stripped of his parliamentary immunity earlier this year.
The lawmakers were meeting after the country's Constitutional Court earlier this month struck down parliament's decision to oust Can Atalay from his parliamentary seat.
Lawyer and rights Mr. Atalay won his seat last year after having campaigned from his prison cell.
Ahmet Sik, a fellow member of the leftist Workers' Party of Turkey (TIP), on Friday defended Atalay against the attacks on him by ruling party lawmakers.
"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.
That comment drew angry responses from ruling party lawmakers, prompting the chairman to call a break.
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