ANKARA, Turkey (AP) 鈥 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鈥檚 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 香港六合彩挂牌资料 Assembly on Tuesday after speaking for some 20 minutes.
Legislators in the hall assisted Bitmez before he was rushed to the hospital in 鈥渆xtremely serious and critical鈥 condition.
During his speech, he was seen holding a sign that read: 鈥淢urderer Israel, Collaborator AKP,鈥 in reference to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan鈥檚 ruling Justice and Development Party.
Bitmez accused the AKP government of continuing to engage in trade with Israel even as it became . AKP lawmakers heckled during his speech.
The legislator concluded his remarks by reading from a poem that ended with: 鈥淓ven if you escape the torment of history, you will not be able to escape the wrath of God.鈥
A ceremony was held for Bitmez on the grounds of the parliament building Thursday. A Palestinian flag was attached to his coffin, which was draped in the Turkish flag.
His funeral was scheduled to be held in Istanbul on Friday.
The Felicity Party joined an opposition alliance that failed to topple Erdogan in a May presidential election.
