Three lawmakers were hospitalized late on January 19 following a brawl between women lawmakers that erupted after independent lawmaker Aylin Nazlıaka handcuffed herself to the lectern in a protest amid the passage of four critical items in an 18-article amendment regulating the duties and authorities of the president.
According to the report by Anadolu Agency, the brawl started Wednesday after independent member of parliament Aylin Nazliaka handcuffed herself to a microphone and refused to leave the podium.
Nazliaka’s protest came during the second and final round of debates this week over a series of controversial constitutional amendments that would expand presidential powers.
She claimed that as an independent lawmaker she was not given a voice and in her protest called on other female members of the opposition to support her, according to state media Anadolu.
The chair attempted to diffuse the situation during a short recess and after an additional 45-minute break, members from the ruling Justice and Development (AKP) moved towards the podium as pro-Kurdish Party Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) members surrounded Nazliaka in support.
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Punches were thrown shortly after the group encircled the lawmaker, according to Anadolu.
One lawmaker with the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) was hospitalized after she reportedly lost her prosthetic arm in the fracas, Anadolu reported.