‘Jewelry gift’ ceremony descends into brawl during engagement party in Istanbul

Seven people were wounded when a traditional “jewelry gifting” ceremony descended into a brawl at an engagement party in Istanbul on Nov. 26.

The bizarre incident occurred at 3:00 p.m. on Nov. 26 in Istanbul’s Şişli district, where guests had come to participate in the engagement ceremony of young couple Kübra and Mustafa.

A dispute between the two families during the traditional “jewelry gifting” ceremony culminated in an all-out brawl, in which guests started to throw dishes, glasses and forks at each other.

Venue officials informed the police of the clashes, which left seven guests wounded.

Police officers were dispatched to the scene to break up the ill-fated event.

The wounded took themselves to hospital and both sides have reportedly issued formal legal complaints about each other.

“Jewelry gifting” is a Turkish tradition that takes place in wedding, engagement and circumcision ceremonies across Turkey. Guests gift jewelry or money to those who are getting married, engaged or circumcised.

Recently a wedding brawl that broke out between two families left the bride and 11 wedding guests injured in the Black Sea province of Samsun on Oct. 25.