TURKEY- Turkish lawmaker Hasan Bitmez has collapsed in the Parliament after declaring that Israel would “suffer the wrath of Allah.”
Mr Bitmez, 53, collapsed on stage while delivering his speech on the 2024 Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Internal Affairs budget.
“You will not escape the wrath of Allah. I salute you all,” the MP told Israel in a viral video trending on X (formerly Twitter) a few seconds before he slumped.
During his address, Mr Bitmez quoted a poem by Turkish writer Sezai Karakoc, stating, “Even if history remains silent, the truth will not remain silent. They think that if they get rid of us, there will be no problem.
“However, if you get rid of us, you will not be able to escape the torment of conscience. Even if you escape the torment of history, you will not be able to escape the wrath of Allah.”
A member of the Grand National Assembly, Mr Bitmez was immediately given CPR on the spot before he was moved to a hospital.
Confirming the incident, Turkish health minister Fahrettin Koca, who shared an update on Mr Bitmez’s condition on the micro-blogging platform, explained that the MP was “intubated and brought to Ankara Bilkent City Hospital.”
Mr Koca added that Mr Bitmez was disturbed during his speech.
“Mr Bitmez fell ill during his speech at the General Assembly of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, and the General Assembly Health Team intervened and started cardiac massage,” the health minister explained.
He added, “Our deputy, who was intubated and brought to Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, was immediately taken for angiography. After angiography, he was put on a heart-lung pump and taken to intensive care. I offer him my best wishes.”
However, he noted that the medical staff were monitoring the Turkish lawmaker admitted to the intensive care unit at Ankara Bilkent City Hospital.
