ANKARA — Hasan Bitmez, an opposition lawmaker who suffered a heart attack on Tuesday after addressing the parliament’s general assembly, has died, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said Thursday.
Bitmez, 54, suddenly collapsed as he began to step away from the rostrum following a speech in which he criticized the government’s foreign policy, including its positions on Israel, during debate on the Foreign Ministry's budget.
Bitmez, a lawmaker from the Saadet (Felicity) Party, accused the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) of betraying the Palestinian cause through what he described as its lack of action, citing ongoing trade between the two countries during his speech. One of the several signs he displayed on the rostrum read "Murderer Israel / Collaborator AKP.”
“We told you to cut off diplomatic ties with Israel . . . but you are still maintaining them,” the late lawmaker said amid angry objections from ruling party representatives. “You allow ships to go to Israel and you shamelessly call it trade.”
