Watch: Moment brawl breaks out in Turkish parliament

This is the moment a discussion over the status of a jailed opposition figure, Can Atalay, sparked a brawl inside Turkey's parliament.

Footage shows leftist MP Ahmet Sik, from the Workers' Party of Turkey (TIP), on the stand giving a speech as Alpay Ozalan, an MP from Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling AK party, approaches and attempts to slap him.

A wider fight then breaks out between opposing party members as Mr Sik falls to the ground. Parliament officials were seen cleaning blood drops off the floor following the fight.

Lawyer and rights activist Mr Atalay lost his parliamentary seat earlier this year.

Mr Sik was defending Mr Atalay against attacks from AK party lawmakers when the fight broke out.

Mr Atalay ran for a seat from jail after being sentenced to 18 years in prison, in 2022, following a controversial trial that also saw the award-winning philanthropist Osman Kavala jailed for life.

Video by Gabriela Boccaccio and Jack Burgess

16 August 2024