His son threw a punch: Melih Gökçek's controversial 'knockout' post targeting Mahmut Tanal
Chaos erupted in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) during the swearing-in ceremony of the new Minister of Justice, Akın Gürlek. During the scuffle, AKP Ankara MP Osman Gökçek punched CHP Şanlıurfa MP Mahmut Tanal. While Tanal's nose was bleeding, a post shared by Melih Gökçek drew backlash.
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Former Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Melih Gökçek made a controversial post regarding the fight that broke out during the swearing-in ceremony of Akın Gürlek, who was appointed as the Minister of Justice, in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. During the ceremony, AKP's Osman Gökçek punched CHP's Mahmut Tanal during a brawl between CHP and AKP deputies.
THE PHOTO HE SHARED DREW BACKLASH
In the post Melih Gökçek made on his social media account, an image depicting his son Osman Gökçek as a boxer using artificial intelligence was placed side-by-side with a photo of Mahmut Tanal injured.
“KNOCKOUT…” MESSAGE
Gökçek used the following expressions in his post:
“Knockout… If you oppose the will of those elected by the nation's vote and attempt to attack the minister, the nation's children will protect their minister, and this is the result…”
KNOCKOUT…
— İbrahim Melih Gökçek (@06melihgokcek) February 11, 2026
IF YOU OPPOSE THE WILL OF THOSE ELECTED BY THE NATION'S VOTE AND ATTEMPT TO ATTACK THE MINISTER,
THE NATION'S CHILDREN WILL PROTECT THEIR MINISTER, AND THIS IS THE RESULT… pic.twitter.com/OwAEObQldy