Independent deputy Aylin Nazlıaka, who was expelled from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) in 2016, handcuffed herself to the lectern in Parliament on Thursday night after her request to address fellow lawmakers was rejected.
The incident took place during constitutional amendment package debates in Parliament as tension was escalating among the deputies.
As other female deputies tried to intervene and remove Nazlıaka’s handcuffs, a disabled deputy from the CHP, Şafak Pavey, fell down. Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) deputy Pervin Buldan was taken to a hospital since she was kicked in the chest during the brawl.
Pavey later said a ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy, Gökçen Özdoğan Enç, wanted to hit her. One of Pavey’s prostheses came off during the altercation among the women. The HDP later in the evening made a statement saying that it was AKP deputy Enç who kicked Buldan in the chest.
Following the incident, the deputies took a break due to high tension in the General Assembly.
The constitutional amendment package is controversial since it aims to expand the president’s power significantly and bring an executive presidential system to the country.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story mistakenly said Nazlıaka was a CHP deputy. She is a former deputy from the CHP. Turkish Minute apologizes for any inconvenience.