A fierce debate in the Turkish parliament turned physical on Friday, as lawmakers clashed over the controversial imprisonment of an opposition delegate. The delegate's jailing, widely seen as a politically motivated move, sparked a heated argument, which quickly escalated into a full-blown brawl.
The video of the brawl in the parliament had gone viral on social media. In the footage, Ahmet Sik, a member of the leftist Workers' Party of Turkey (TIP), is seen attacked by ruling AKP party lawmakers while speaking at the chamber's podium.
Sik had called the members of the AKP, a terrorist organisation, that provoked the opposition lawmakers.
Blood was spilt on the speaker's chamber when a few lawmakers, including a woman, got caught in between the scuffle of the deputies.
The parliament session of the Turkish Grand National Assembly was called to debate the case of Can Atalay, who was elected from prison as parliamentary deputy for the TIP, in last year's election.
Atalay had been sentenced to 18 years imprisonment for his role in anti-government protests in 2013. Atalay has been fighting to take his seat in the parliament as it grants him immunity from prosecution. He is currently lodged in Marmara prison.
Opposition parties demanded a special session to discuss the case.
The conviction of Atalay and seven other defendants in the Gezi Park case led to widespread criticism from human rights activists. The Gezi Park protests began in the summer of 2013 with an environmental camp to stop the development of a central Istanbul park. The protests later turned to criticising former Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's authoritarian rule.
After three hours, the parliamentary session resumed, with Sik and his assailant accepting reprimands from the speaker.