The incidents of violence occurring in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) have recently emerged as developments that deeply undermine democratic values and the rule of law. AK Party Deputy Alpay Özalan attacked TİP Deputy Ahmet Şık while he was speaking at the parliamentary podium. During a special session convened to discuss the Constitutional Court's ruling that "the decision to revoke Can Atalay's parliamentary status is null and void," which was held specifically for Can Atalay, chaos ensued after Şık remarked, "You have no shame at all. Not an ounce of shame. You have no dignity." In the ensuing brawl, two deputies who tried to break up the fight were also struck, and blood splattered on the parliament steps. DEM Party member Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit's eyebrow was split open, requiring her to be taken to the parliamentary hospital. CHP member Okan Konuralp was also injured. Following the brawl, both Şık and Özalan received a reprimand.While many politicians condemned this attack, the government side, instead of making calming statements, used language that endorsed the violence. For instance, Presidential Chief Advisor Ahmet Selim Köroğlu stated, "This is the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, not a free-for-all; if you insult, you'll get a response. Osman Kavala, Selahattin Demirtaş, and Can Atalay are terrorists."[4] Shortly after the incident, AKP Deputy Chair of Human Rights Ceren Tuncer shared a video of Özalan attacking Şık on the platform X with the caption, "For those who understand, in the language they understand." Later, she shared another video of Özalan from 2018, saying, "The king did what was necessary." Commenting on the brawl, MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli said, "Without the Nationalist Movement Party, one of the founders of the People's Alliance, the AK Party did what was necessary, demonstrating a commendable stance by not allowing injustice, unlawfulness, and banditry. Those who ask 'Where is the minor partner?' got what they deserved, and a decision that meets the expectations of our nation was made without us." [5]These statements from the ruling party following the events have contributed to the normalization of violence and increased social polarization.CHP leader Özgür Özel criticized the violence and called on Speaker of the Parliament Numan Kurtulmuş to intervene in the situation. He also urged Kurtulmuş to take the initiative and chair a meeting with representatives of the political parties. Additionally, Özel criticized Ahmet Şık for his "tone," to which Ahmet Şık responded, "I want to point out that there is a chasm between Özgür Özel, the group leader, and Özel, the CHP leader. Özgür Özel believes he must first criticize me in order to condemn Alpay Özalan's attack. This is precisely the political line drawn by the ruling party."One of the most significant institutions violated by this incident is legislative irresponsibility (or immunity of the podium), a component of parliamentary immunity. Legislative irresponsibility, guaranteed by Article 83 of the Constitution, stipulates that members of Parliament cannot be held accountable for their "votes and words in parliamentary proceedings and the opinions they express in the Assembly." This provision is a safeguard to ensure that deputies can perform their duties as representatives of the people without fear of pressure or threats. However, when deputies are physically attacked for the views they express at the podium, it undermines the meaning of these immunities and severely damages the functioning of the democratic system.The incident in the Parliament should not be viewed merely as an individual attack. The normalization of such incidents and their endorsement by some parties could lead to a broader acceptance of violence within society and further weaken Turkish democracy, which is already experiencing erosion. In this regard, protecting parliamentary immunity and ensuring that the physical integrity of deputies is not under threat is essential for maintaining the minimum standards of a democratic system. The Speaker of the Parliament and political parties must take the necessary steps to prevent violence and rebuild a culture of democratic debate.

The Freedom Observer

The incident in the Parliament should not be viewed merely as an individual attack. The normalization of such incidents and their endorsement by some parties could lead to a broader acceptance of violence within society and further weaken Turkish democracy, which is already experiencing erosion. In this regard, protecting parliamentary immunity and ensuring that the physical integrity of deputies is not under threat is essential for maintaining the minimum standards of a democratic system. The Speaker of the Parliament and political parties must take the necessary steps to prevent violence and rebuild a culture of democratic debate.

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