diff --git a/scripts/gitea_issue_parser.py b/scripts/gitea_issue_parser.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2c34f30
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/gitea_issue_parser.py
@@ -0,0 +1,131 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+Gitea Issue Body Parser — Extract structured data from markdown issue bodies.
+
+Usage:
+    cat issue_body.txt | python3 scripts/gitea_issue_parser.py --stdin --pretty
+    python3 scripts/gitea_issue_parser.py --url https://forge.../api/v1/repos/.../issues/123 --pretty
+    python3 scripts/gitea_issue_parser.py body.txt --title "Fix thing (#42)" --labels pipeline extraction
+"""
+
+import argparse
+import json
+import re
+import sys
+from typing import Dict, List, Any, Optional
+
+
+def parse_issue_body(body: str, title: str = "", labels: List[str] = None) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    """Parse a Gitea issue markdown body into structured JSON.
+    
+    Extracted fields:
+    - title: Issue title
+    - context: Background/description section
+    - criteria[]: Acceptance criteria (checkboxes or numbered lists)
+    - labels[]: Issue labels
+    - epic_ref: Parent/epic issue reference (from "Closes #N" or title)
+    - sections{}: All ## sections as key-value pairs
+    """
+    result = {
+        "title": title,
+        "context": "",
+        "criteria": [],
+        "labels": labels or [],
+        "epic_ref": None,
+        "sections": {},
+    }
+    
+    if not body:
+        return result
+    
+    # Extract epic reference from title or body
+    epic_patterns = [
+        r"(?:closes|fixes|addresses|refs?)\s+#(\d+)",
+        r"#(\d+)",
+    ]
+    for pattern in epic_patterns:
+        match = re.search(pattern, (title + " " + body).lower())
+        if match:
+            result["epic_ref"] = int(match.group(1))
+            break
+    
+    # Parse ## sections
+    section_pattern = r"^##\s+(.+?)$\n((?:^(?!##\s).*$\n?)*)"
+    for match in re.finditer(section_pattern, body, re.MULTILINE):
+        section_name = match.group(1).strip().lower().replace(" ", "_")
+        section_content = match.group(2).strip()
+        result["sections"][section_name] = section_content
+    
+    # Extract acceptance criteria (checkboxes)
+    checkbox_pattern = r"^\s*-\s*\[([ xX])\]\s*(.+)$"
+    for match in re.finditer(checkbox_pattern, body, re.MULTILINE):
+        checked = match.group(1).lower() == "x"
+        text = match.group(2).strip()
+        result["criteria"].append({"text": text, "checked": checked})
+    
+    # If no checkboxes, try numbered lists in "Acceptance Criteria" or "Criteria" section
+    if not result["criteria"]:
+        for section_name in ["acceptance_criteria", "criteria", "acceptance criteria"]:
+            if section_name in result["sections"]:
+                numbered = r"^\s*\d+\.\s*(.+)$"
+                for match in re.finditer(numbered, result["sections"][section_name], re.MULTILINE):
+                    result["criteria"].append({"text": match.group(1).strip(), "checked": False})
+                break
+    
+    # Extract context (first section or first paragraph before any ## heading)
+    first_heading = body.find("## ")
+    if first_heading > 0:
+        context_text = body[:first_heading].strip()
+    else:
+        context_text = body.split("\n\n")[0].strip()
+    # Clean up: remove "## Context" or "## Problem" header if present
+    context_text = re.sub(r"^#+\s*\w+\s*\n?", "", context_text).strip()
+    result["context"] = context_text[:500]  # Cap at 500 chars
+    
+    return result
+
+
+def fetch_issue_from_url(url: str) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    """Fetch an issue from a Gitea API URL and parse it."""
+    import urllib.request
+    req = urllib.request.Request(url, headers={"Accept": "application/json"})
+    with urllib.request.urlopen(req) as resp:
+        data = json.loads(resp.read())
+    
+    return parse_issue_body(
+        body=data.get("body", ""),
+        title=data.get("title", ""),
+        labels=[l["name"] for l in data.get("labels", [])]
+    )
+
+
+def main():
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Parse Gitea issue markdown into structured JSON")
+    parser.add_argument("file", nargs="?", help="Issue body file (or use --stdin)")
+    parser.add_argument("--stdin", action="store_true", help="Read from stdin")
+    parser.add_argument("--url", help="Gitea API URL to fetch issue from")
+    parser.add_argument("--title", default="", help="Issue title")
+    parser.add_argument("--labels", nargs="*", default=[], help="Issue labels")
+    parser.add_argument("--pretty", action="store_true", help="Pretty-print JSON output")
+    
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+    
+    if args.url:
+        result = fetch_issue_from_url(args.url)
+    elif args.stdin:
+        body = sys.stdin.read()
+        result = parse_issue_body(body, args.title, args.labels)
+    elif args.file:
+        with open(args.file) as f:
+            body = f.read()
+        result = parse_issue_body(body, args.title, args.labels)
+    else:
+        parser.print_help()
+        sys.exit(1)
+    
+    indent = 2 if args.pretty else None
+    print(json.dumps(result, indent=indent))
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()
diff --git a/scripts/test_gitea_issue_parser.py b/scripts/test_gitea_issue_parser.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..36aaee0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/test_gitea_issue_parser.py
@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""Tests for scripts/gitea_issue_parser.py"""
+
+import sys
+import os
+sys.path.insert(0, os.path.dirname(__file__) or ".")
+
+# Import from sibling
+import importlib.util
+spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location("parser", os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__) or ".", "gitea_issue_parser.py"))
+mod = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
+spec.loader.exec_module(mod)
+parse_issue_body = mod.parse_issue_body
+
+
+def test_basic_parsing():
+    body = """## Context
+
+This is the background info.
+
+## Acceptance Criteria
+
+- [ ] First criterion
+- [x] Second criterion (done)
+
+## What to build
+
+Some description.
+"""
+    result = parse_issue_body(body, title="Test (#42)", labels=["bug"])
+    assert result["title"] == "Test (#42)"
+    assert result["labels"] == ["bug"]
+    assert result["epic_ref"] == 42
+    assert len(result["criteria"]) == 2
+    assert result["criteria"][0]["text"] == "First criterion"
+    assert result["criteria"][0]["checked"] == False
+    assert result["criteria"][1]["checked"] == True
+    assert "context" in result["sections"]
+    print("PASS: test_basic_parsing")
+
+
+def test_numbered_criteria():
+    body = """## Acceptance Criteria
+
+1. First item
+2. Second item
+3. Third item
+"""
+    result = parse_issue_body(body)
+    assert len(result["criteria"]) == 3
+    assert result["criteria"][0]["text"] == "First item"
+    print("PASS: test_numbered_criteria")
+
+
+def test_epic_ref_from_body():
+    body = "Closes #123\n\nSome description."
+    result = parse_issue_body(body)
+    assert result["epic_ref"] == 123
+    print("PASS: test_epic_ref_from_body")
+
+
+def test_empty_body():
+    result = parse_issue_body("")
+    assert result["criteria"] == []
+    assert result["context"] == ""
+    assert result["sections"] == {}
+    print("PASS: test_empty_body")
+
+
+def test_no_sections():
+    body = "Just a plain issue body with no headings."
+    result = parse_issue_body(body)
+    assert result["context"] == "Just a plain issue body with no headings."
+    print("PASS: test_no_sections")
+
+
+def test_multiple_sections():
+    body = """## Problem
+
+Something is broken.
+
+## Fix
+
+Do this instead.
+
+## Notes
+
+Additional info.
+"""
+    result = parse_issue_body(body)
+    assert "problem" in result["sections"]
+    assert "fix" in result["sections"]
+    assert "notes" in result["sections"]
+    assert "Something is broken" in result["sections"]["problem"]
+    print("PASS: test_multiple_sections")
+
+
+def run_all():
+    test_basic_parsing()
+    test_numbered_criteria()
+    test_epic_ref_from_body()
+    test_empty_body()
+    test_no_sections()
+    test_multiple_sections()
+    print("\nAll 6 tests passed!")
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    run_all()