Foul-mouthed quarrels and hassles between government and opposition members of parliament are frequent in Turkey’s parliament, even commonplace. In recent days, however, things have reached an alarming point, with an unprecedented climate of violence descending on parliament.

The Feb. 17 session left four opposition deputies injured — one from the People's Democracy Party (HDP), which represents the Kurdish movement, and the others from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP). Some ended up with bleeding heads, others with cracked ribs. The violence continued when the assembly reconvened on Feb. 19. A CHP deputy rolled down a staircase as deputies exchanged blows and kicks.

Opposition lawmakers said they had come under a collective attack by members of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), while the AKP claimed the opposition parliament members had battered one another.

The confrontation that sparked the violent melees stems from a bill the AKP is trying to pass through parliament in a bid to equip police and public administrators with extraordinary powers.