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Following are excerpts from a news report about heated brawls in Jordanian parliament, which aired on Al-Arabiya TV on November 16, 2007:
Reporter: The parliament represents democracy in Jordan – a democracy which is not devoid of violence under the roof of the parliament. Consecutive parliamentary sessions have witnessed several cases in which the discussion became heated, and developed into cursing and swearing, and the floor of the parliament turned into a boxing ring.
Deputy Parliamentary Speaker Khalil 'Atiyah: Sometimes you have no choice. When your rival tries to cause problems for you, you have no choice but to defend yourself, and take measures for self-defense. It is the fault of the one who started it. Everyone tries to present himself as a real man. He tried to attack me, I exercised my right for self-defense, and he got what he deserved.
Reporter: Sometimes, there is a great price to pay, like in the case of former MP Mansour Murad, after his ear was bitten by his colleague Ahmad 'Uweidi 'Abadi.
Parliamentary Speaker Abd Al-Hadi Al-Majali: This happens in all the parliaments in the world. There is nothing strange about disputes between two groups, or two people, developing into quarrels and cursing. This happens in all the parliaments in the world.
Member of parliament:Shut up. Shut up. It's none of your business. You insolent man!
Reporter: In other cases, glasses of water and ashtrays are thrown from a distance.
In the most serious case, journalists were attacked by some MPs.
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