In a shocking turn of events, a debate in the Turkish Parliament spiraled into violence when lawmakers exchanged blows during a heated discussion. The chaos began when Ahmet Sik, an opposition lawmaker, accused President Erdogan’s ruling party of being a “terrorist organization.” This led to a member of Erdogan’s party physically attacking Sik while he was speaking at the podium.

The brawl quickly spread, involving several deputies. Amid the scuffle, a female lawmaker was injured, leaving bloodstains on the steps of the speaker’s podium. Another opposition lawmaker was also hurt in the fight. Physical altercations in Turkey’s parliament have become somewhat common, but the intensity of this incident shocked many.

The parliamentary session was supposed to address the case of Can Atalay, an opposition member who was elected while in prison. Atalay had been sentenced to 18 years for his involvement in the 2013 Gezi Park protests, which began as an environmental movement and grew into a larger demonstration against Erdogan’s government. Atalay’s supporters argue that his conviction was politically motivated, and many believe he should be freed due to parliamentary immunity.

Despite the Constitutional Court ruling that Atalay’s parliamentary rights were violated, lower courts have ignored the decision. Frustration boiled over during this session, leading to the violent clash. After a three-hour break, the session resumed, and the involved lawmakers were reprimanded by the parliament’s speaker.

The incident serves as a reminder of the deep political divisions in Turkey, where tensions often erupt into physical confrontations instead of civil debate. Calls from human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International, have emphasized the need for Atalay’s rights to be restored and for the broader issue of political repression in the country to be addressed.