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Lawmakers Brawl in Turkish Parliament Over Lifting of Immunity

Scuffles broke out between legislators from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP) during a meeting over the potential lifting of legal immunity for parliamentarians on Monday, May 2. The meeting of the constitutional commission at the Turkish National Assembly reportedly took place after a previous session on April 28 was postponed when it descended into a fistfight.

The HDP believes the bill is aimed at suppressing dissent against the AKP government. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for the prosecution of several HDP members, accusing them of support for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

The footage, shot by a journalist sitting in on the session, shows lawmakers throwing punches at each other amidst the heated pdebate. Turkish media reports said that AKP Deputy Mustafa Sentop called for a short break to end the scuffles prior to resuming the parliamentary session. Credit: Hayri Demir