May 2024 · 2 minute read

A member of parliament from the opposition Felicity (Saadet) Party, Hasan Bitmez, 54, has passed away in Ankara City Hospital, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced. Bitmez collapsed while giving a speech in the General Assembly Hall in Ankara, where he had made remarks about Israel ‘suffering the wrath of Allah’ for invading Gaza.

Bitmez was seen falling to the floor in a viral video after concluding his speech, prompting other politicians to rush to his aid. The Saadet Party Kocaeli Deputy received chest compressions for a prolonged period before being stretchered out of the hall.

Turkish lawmaker dies two days after collapsing while giving a speech saying Israel would suffer the wrath of Allah for invading Gaza

Deputy Turhan Çömez from the Kemalist İYİ Party, who is a trained doctor, was reportedly the first to assist Bitmez when he collapsed.

Bitmez was taken to Bilkent City Hospital in Ankara, where he received treatment in the intensive care unit while in a critical condition. Health Minister Koca revealed that an angiography showed that the two main veins in Bitmez’s heart were completely blocked.

‘His heart stopped beating, then he was resuscitated in parliament and transferred within 20 minutes to hospital,’ Koca had said. However, Bitmez tragically passed away two days after suffering the heart attack.

Prior to his collapse, Bitmez had been criticizing President Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling AK Party over Turkey’s ongoing trade with Israel despite the conflict in Gaza, accusing the government of being complicit in Israel’s actions. He had placed a banner on the podium reading: “Murderer Israel; collaborator AKP” during his speech.

You allow ships to go to Israel and you shamelessly call it trade… You are Israel’s accomplice,” Bitmez said before collapsing. “You have the blood of Palestinians on your hands, you are collaborators. You contribute to every bomb Israel drops on Gaza,” he told lawmakers.

Bitmez was elected as the 28th Term Kocaeli Deputy in the elections of May 14, 2023.

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