Massive Brawl Erupts in Turkish Parliament

A massive brawl erupted in Turkey's parliament on Friday during a heated debate over the fate of jailed opposition MP Can Atalay. Ruling AKP party member Alpay Ozalan physically attacked Ahmet Sik from the Workers' Party of Turkey (TIP) after Sik labeled the ruling party as 'terrorists'. The confrontation escalated into a 30-minute melee involving dozens of lawmakers, resulting in injuries and bloodstains on the chamber floor. Atalay, who was controversially stripped of his parliamentary seat earlier this year despite a Constitutional Court ruling in his favor, had been imprisoned since 2022 for his alleged role in the 2013 Gezi Park protests. The incident underscores the deep political tensions in Turkey and has drawn condemnation from opposition leaders and rights groups.