Profanity row in Turkish Parliament: 'A female MP called our colleagues sons of b*tches'

A fight broke out during the deliberations on the 'Draft Law on Amendments to Tax Laws and Certain Other Laws' at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) General Assembly.

AKP MPs walked toward DEM Party Mersin MP Ali Bozan and punched him.

DEM Party Ağrı MP Sırrı Sakık criticized the violence that occurred in the TBMM, alleging that profanities directed at his party were not recorded in the official minutes due to 'instructions'.

Sakık said, “Today, we all experienced an incident that we do not approve of at all. But I want to share with you that this parliament is operating under a double standard. Previously, right where our Speaker is sitting, the exact sentence used against us and our group was, ‘bastards’, but it did not make it into the minutes. Because these instructions were given to the clerks, and the word ‘bastard’ did not make it into the minutes…”

BOZDAĞ CUT OFF SAKIK’S MICROPHONE

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Bekir Bozdağ warned Sakık, saying, “From now on, I am warning you from here; if there are rude, offensive words, I will automatically cut them off, I will cut them. You can criticize, but it cannot be repeated here.” Following his words, Bozdağ cut off the microphone of DEM Party's Sakık.

“A FEMALE COLLEAGUE USED THE EXACT PHRASE AGAINST OUR GROUP: ‘SONS OF B*TCHES’”

Sakık then continued his speech, saying, “Then a female colleague from your group stood up and the exact sentence she used against our group was, ‘sons of b*tches’.” Reactions of “shameful, shame on you” rose from the AKP benches to Sakık’s words. As AKP MPs stood up, Sakık walked toward the AKP benches. Some DEM Party and opposition MPs intervened and moved Sakık away from the podium.

Bozdağ adjourned the General Assembly for 15 minutes. The argument continued for a short time during the break.

“WARNING PENALTY” FOR SAKIK

After the break, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Bozdağ announced that he had issued a warning penalty to DEM Party's Sakık for “disturbing the peace and order of work” in accordance with the TBMM Rules of Procedure.

Sırrı Sakık reacted to the warning penalty by saying, “None of these words belong to me.” Upon this, Bozdağ stated, “It does not suit you, Mr. Sakık; what we experienced in the General Assembly this afternoon was an example for all of us. As the Presidential Council, we said, ‘speaking with clean language is more appropriate for the dignity of our Parliament.’ Repeating profanities from the podium does not suit the dignity of this place either. We cannot repeat what others have said here.”