The brawl started after main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy Engin Özkoç criticized President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. 

Özkoç claimed that Erdoğan insulted Turkish soldiers in the past, which prompted outrage among the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputies.

While the CHP and AKP deputies traded accusations regarding support for the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), it quickly escalated into a full-blown fist fight. 

AKP deputy Alpay Özalan, who is known with his aggressive behaviour towards opposition lawmakers in parliament, walked towards Özkoç in an attempt to attack him.