Blood shed in the Turkish Parliament: Alpay Özalan's attack on Ahmet Şık makes international headlines

The Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) convened yesterday (August 16) at 2:00 PM for Can Atalay, the Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP) MP for Hatay, regarding whom the Constitutional Court (AYM) ruled that the decision to strip him of his parliamentary status was "null and void."

The meeting was adjourned twice following the speech by TİP MP Ahmet Şık.

During Şık's second speech, AKP member Alpay Özalan approached him from behind and attempted to punch him.

In the ensuing fistfight, CHP member Okan Konuralp and DEM Party Group Deputy Chair Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit sustained cuts above their eyes.

The brawl that took place in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) has also found coverage in the world press. International media outlets described the events in Parliament as "chaos" and emphasized that such fights are not the first to occur in the Turkish parliament.

According to a report by T24, The Financial Times attributed the rising tensions to the AKP's defeat in the March 31 elections, while Reuters recalled the attack on AKP deputies who staged a protest at the podium against the appointment of trustees in June.

THE GUARDIAN: CHAOS IN THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT

The Britain-based The Guardian began its report by stating, "Atalay had won a seat in parliament in elections held after he campaigned from his prison cell last year," and included the following remarks:

"The Turkish parliament descended into chaos as dozens of MPs were involved in a fistfight. After the brawl, which began when an MP called the ruling majority 'terrorists,' staff had to clean up bloodstains from the floor."

The Guardian featured the story as a headline on the front page of its website.

SKY NEWS:

The British broadcaster Sky News recalled the Constitutional Court's ruling that the revocation of Can Atalay's parliamentary seat was "null and void," and included the following remarks regarding the incident:

"Video footage showed ruling AK Party MPs running forward as one of them punched Şık, with dozens more joining the fray, some trying to hold people back.

Blood was seen on the white steps of the speaker's podium.

Other politicians also left their seats and rushed forward, and several MPs were seen filming the brawl as more people became involved in the fight."

EURONEWS: TURKISH MPS CLASH IN DEBATE OVER IMPRISONED COLLEAGUE

In a report by EuroNews that begins with the statement "physical fights are not rare in the Turkish parliament," the cause of the brawl is identified as "the labeling of the ruling party as a 'terrorist organization'."

The report, which states that "a brawl broke out among Turkish lawmakers during a heated debate over an opposition MP held in prison on charges believed to be politically motivated," includes the following remarks:

"Televised footage shows Ahmet Şık, who is from the same party as the imprisoned MP, being approached and attacked by a lawmaker from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's ruling party while speaking at the parliamentary podium. Shortly before the attack, Şık had called the ruling party members a 'terrorist organization'."

BBC SHARES VIDEO OF THE ATTACK

In its report sharing the video of the events in Parliament, the British public broadcaster BBC summarized what happened, stating, "The moment a debate over the status of imprisoned opposition figure Can Atalay led to a brawl in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey."

The report stated, "As left-wing MP Ahmet Şık from the Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP) was speaking at the podium, Alpay Özalan, an MP from Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's ruling AK Party, approached him and attempted to slap him."

THE FINANCIAL TIMES: THREE MPS INJURED IN PARLIAMENT BRAWL

The British-based The Financial Times began its report on the events in Parliament with the following statement: "A row over an imprisoned MP in the Turkish Grand National Assembly descended into a brawl that left three lawmakers injured, highlighting the depth of political bitterness as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling party struggles with an emboldened opposition."

The report, which stated that tensions in Turkish politics have risen after the AKP suffered "its worst defeat since its founding" in the March 31 elections, included the following remarks:

"The fight in parliament erupted after opposition MP Ahmet Şık harshly criticized AKP lawmakers, calling them 'dishonorable.' AKP MP Alpay Özalan then struck Şık, sparking a wider clash that left three MPs with minor injuries."

REUTERS: RARE, BUT NOT THE FIRST

Summarizing the event with the words, "A brawl broke out in the Turkish parliament after an opposition lawmaker was attacked while demanding that a colleague, who was jailed on charges of organizing anti-government protests but later elected to parliament, be admitted to the assembly," the British agency Reuters wrote, "Blood splattered on the white steps of the speaker's podium."

The Reuters report included the statement, "While rare, fights are not unheard of in the Turkish parliament. In June, AKP lawmakers clashed with pro-Kurdish DEM Party lawmakers over the detention and removal of a DEM Party mayor in southeastern Turkey due to alleged militant links."

FOX NEWS: TURKISH PARLIAMENT DRAGGED INTO CHAOTIC AND BLOODY BRAWL

"The Turkish Grand National Assembly was plunged into chaos after a member of an opposition party labeled President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's party a 'terrorist organization'," wrote the U.S. broadcaster Fox News, adding, "Within moments, dozens of lawmakers joined the fray, with some throwing punches and papers while others attempted to break up the fight."

Here is what was captured during the fight that took place in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey yesterday...