A violent altercation broke out in the Turkish Parliament on Wednesday just before Akın Gürlek was sworn in as the nation’s justice minister. Lawmakers from the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) exchanged blows amid disputes over Gürlek’s appointment. Reports differ on who initiated the confrontation, with both sides claiming the other acted aggressively.

Images from the chamber showed MPs striking each other, at times using shoes as weapons, and at least one lawmaker fell to the floor during the melee. Three lawmakers were reportedly hospitalized with injuries, though none were life-threatening.

The swearing-in proceeded despite the chaos, though some CHP leaders argue the ceremony was not properly recorded in parliamentary minutes, calling the appointment invalid. Senior CHP lawmaker Murat Emir criticized Gürlek’s selection, arguing it signals political interference in the judiciary. “The appointment of Gürlek as Minister of Justice means that the person who put the final nail in the coffin of justice was just made a guard of that coffin,” Emir stated.

Gürlek, who previously served as Istanbul’s top public prosecutor, played a key role in the imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a prominent CHP figure. Imamoglu, popular in the city, faced over 150 criminal charges, with prosecutors seeking a cumulative 2,000-year prison sentence. Supporters of the ruling AKP defend Gürlek’s appointment, noting his experience in the judiciary and his commitment to upholding legal processes.

Following his swearing-in, Gürlek addressed the nation, pledging to work “with determination and perseverance in the cause of serving our nation and state in the name of the administration of justice.”

The confrontation underscores the ongoing political polarization in Turkey, particularly surrounding the Erdogan administration’s judicial appointments and high-profile prosecutions of opposition figures. The CHP continues to challenge Gürlek’s legitimacy as justice minister, while the AKP maintains the oath of office was valid and the appointment lawful.