At least two Turkish lawmakers have been hospitalized after fighting broke out in parliament. It's not the first time politicians have come to blows over a reform bill that would boost President Erdogan's powers.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo
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The scuffle broke out after independent legislator Aylin Nazliaka handcuffed herself to the microphone on the parliament's rostrum to protest against the controversial reform package.
"I am chaining myself to the lectern to say no to the diktat of one man, to oppose the annulment of republican values and protest against parliament being handcuffed with this constitutional revision," she said.
The move prompted the parliament's deputy speaker to twice call a recess and halt debate on the draft constitutional amendments. The situation escalated when deputies from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) tried to unscrew the microphone. Television footage of the confrontation showed women from the ruling party and the opposition punching, kicking and slapping each other.
Pervin Buldan, a deputy speaker from the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), was hospitalized after being kicked in the chest, Turkish media reported. AKP legislator Gokcen Enc was also allegedly taken to hospital with blows to her neck and back.
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One legislator from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), Safak Pavey, who has a prosthetic arm and leg, told the "Hurriyet” newspaper she was pushed out of her wheelchair while a colleague was "dragged by her hair."
"They attacked us, it was like they lost their heads. This attack shows what awaits us once the (reform of) the constitution is passed," Pavey said.
Controversial changes
Thursday's clash was the third time that debates on the proposed legislation had led to violence. Most recently, the parliament witnessed similar scenes last week, with one ruling party legislator claiming he was bitten on the leg.
The bill at issue would give President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office executive powers and allow him to appoint and fire ministers. The AKP insists the changes are necessary to ensure a strong presidency. Critics, however, complain the law would concentrate too much power in Erdogan's hands.
A final vote on the legislation is expected in parliament on Friday or Saturday. If approved, the reforms would then be put to a national referendum.
nm/kl (AFP, AP)
When lawmakers pack a punch
While defending his government's record, Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk was pulled from the podium by a lawmaker. It's far from the first time parliamentary debates have come to blows. DW examines.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/L. Acosta
Unruly in Ukraine
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Tear gas - the new normal
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Hard blow
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Flying eggs and smoke bombs
Ukrainian lawmakers are not averse to rowdy scenes. Violence broke out in the Ukranian parliament in April 2010 as it ratified an extension to Russia's Black Sea naval base. The then-speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn was forced to take refuge behind an umbrella to protect himself from flying eggs and smoke bombs.
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The Russian connection
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Beef politics
The state assembly of Jammu and Kashmir in India witnessed violent scenes in October 2015 when an independent lawmaker, Engineer Rashid (CL-back) was thrashed by ruling Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) legislators for hosting a beef party in protest against the beef ban in the state.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/T. Mustafa
A history of brawls
Taiwanese lawmakers, like their Ukrainian Counterparts, have been known to throw punches at each other. Rival legislators came to blows in May 2007 (pictured) to protest against the electoral reform bill, throwing the house into utter chaos. Taiwanese lawmakers have been involved in at least five major brawls in the past decade.
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Serial offenders
South Korean legislators have also participated in several incidents of violence. Here opposition party members try to enter a parliamentary committee room barricaded by ruling party legislators in Seoul on December 18, 2008. The ruling party members barricaded themselves in a room as tensions soared over a attempt to ratify a US free trade pact.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/J. Young-Han
Total chaos
The South African parliament descended into a chaos in February, 2015 when members of former ANC youth leader Julius Malema’s party disrupted President Jacob Zuma's annual address. There were clashes with security officials after the members were ordered out of the chamber. Several people were injured in the brawl.
Image: Reuters/R. Bosch
'Bloody' blows
Fist-fights broke out in Venezuela's National Assembly in April 2013, injuring a number of lawmakers during an angry session linked to an election dispute. The opposition said seven of its parliamentarians were attacked and hurt, including Julio Borges (in picture).
Image: Reuters
Desperate measures
Mexican deputies from the Democratic Revolution Party (PRD) attempt to block one of the entrances to Congress to prevent Felipe Calderon from being sworn-in as the new president in December 2006. Calderon succeeded in taking the oath despite the fist-fight that erupted in Congress hours earlier between rival lawmakers.
