Brawls in Turkish parliament delay legislation on EU migrant deal

Violent tension between lawmakers from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) descended into a brawl during a plenary session on April 27, delaying efforts to pass legislation on an EU migration deal.

Deputies threw punches, pushed and tried to restrain each other in the assembly late on April 27 in a row over deadly operations against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the southeast. 

Fighting erupted after HDP ??rnak deputy Ferhat Encü "commemorated all civilians and children massacred by the security services."

"I remember the civilians recently massacred by shelling in [the southeastern district of] Silopi. I remember the 34 people, including children, who were brutally bombed by Turkish warplanes in Roboski four years ago," said Encü.

Turkish warplanes killed 34 villagers, all relatives in Encü, in late 2011 on the border with Iraq in the eastern district of Uludere in the Roboski Massacre.

The acting speaker announced at the end of April 27 session that, following the scuffles, the parliament would not meet again in a full session until May 2.

Lawmakers had been expected to work on April 29 and April 30 on legislation needed for Turks to secure visa-free travel to Europe, a key part of Ankara's deal with the European Union on stopping uncontrolled migration to Europe. 

"You may not like it, but unfortunately these things are true," he added. 

During the speech, AKP deputies reacted angrily and started shouting, declaring Encü a supporter of the PKK.
"You are a murderer. You support murderers. You are despicable. You are a terrorist and a defender of murderers. You should be in jail. You came from the...