A major brawl broke out in Turkey's Grand National Assembly (parliament) on February 11, 2026, during the swearing-in ceremony for newly appointed Justice Minister Akın Gürlek.
Opposition lawmakers from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) tried to physically block Gürlek from taking his oath of office, protesting his appointment by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
As Istanbul's former chief prosecutor, Gürlek oversaw high-profile, politically charged cases and investigations against opposition figures, including the arrest warrant for Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu—widely viewed by critics as politically motivated crackdowns.
The confrontation escalated quickly: lawmakers from the ruling AK Party and opposition clashed, with reports of pushing, shoving, punches thrown, shouting, and even some MPs removing shoes amid the chaos. One CHP deputy (Mahmut Tanal) reportedly suffered a broken nose and was hospitalized as a precaution. The session was briefly adjourned by the speaker to restore order, but Gürlek was eventually sworn in amid cheers from ruling party members.
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