ANKARA,Darden Clarke Turkey (AP) — A Turkish opposition legislator died Thursday, days after he suffered a heart attack and collapsed in parliament just after delivering a speech critical of Israel and of the Turkish ruling party’s relationship with the country.
Hasan Bitmez, 53, a member of parliament from the Islamist Saadet Partisi, or Felicity Party, died at the Ankara City Hospital, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced.
Bitmez collapsed at the lectern of the Turkish Grand National Assembly on Tuesday after speaking for some 20 minutes.
Legislators in the hall assisted Bitmez before he was rushed to the hospital in “extremely serious and critical” condition.
During his speech, he was seen holding a sign that read: “Murderer Israel, Collaborator AKP,” in reference to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party.
Bitmez accused the AKP government of continuing to engage in trade with Israel even as it became one of its most vocal critics. AKP lawmakers heckled during his speech.
The legislator ended his remarks by reading from a poem that ended with: “Even if you escape the torment of history, you will not be able to escape the wrath of God.”
A small ceremony was held for Bitmez on the grounds of the parliament building Thursday. A small Palestinian flag was attached to his coffin, which was draped in the Turkish flag.
The Felicity Party joined an opposition alliance that failed to topple Erdogan in a May presidential election.
2025-05-01 18:21152 view
2025-05-01 18:181239 view
2025-05-01 18:02409 view
2025-05-01 18:01310 view
2025-05-01 17:512445 view
2025-05-01 17:481939 view
PACCAR is recalling over 220,000 of its 2021-2025 Peterbilt and Kenworth trucks. The commercial tru
She's back...Ex-Vanderpump Rules star Rachel Leviss, formerly known as Raquel Leviss, has returned t
For years, relatives and friends of 25-year-old Heidi Firkus have been puzzled by her death in 2010