Women and LGBTI+s take to streets for International Women's Day demonstrations in Turkey

Duvar English

Thousands gathered for the International Women's Day demonstrations around the country on March 8 despite the growing oppression of the government towards the street protests. Even though the Feminist Night March in Istanbul was banned in Istanbul by the governor's office, many women and LGBTI+s met in the Beyoğlu district to protest against the violence against women in the country and the crisis after the earthquakes that shook the country last month.

Istanbul

As in previous years, the government banned the Feminist Night March that has been historically held at Taksim Square on İstiklal Avenue. Women and LGBTI+s met at a nearby point despite the heavy blockade.

The main banner of the demonstration read, "We are angry, we are in rage, we are in feminist revolt against patriarchal capitalist destruction."

Ankara

In the capital, women gathered on Sakarya Street, but their march was prevented by the police. Women chanted the slogans of "government resign," "Women don't want war," "Murder not fate," "You will never walk alone."

Diyarbakır

Women in the southeastern Diyarbakır province were blockaded by the police at two different points. They were not allowed to march and not allowed to disperse after the sit-in protest.

During the police blockade, women chanted slogans of "Jin, jiyan, azadî (Women, life, freedom in Kurdish)," "Barricade not for women but for murderers", "We are not silent, we are not afraid, we do not obey," "Amedspor is not alone," and "Government resign." 

Protestors who could not leave the blockade lit candles for the women who lost their lives in the Kahramanmaraş-based earthquakes and for the women who lost their lives due to violence of men.