An event organized in the Turkish capital Ankara, on the occasion of the International Day of Women’s Rights, scheduled for 8 March, was repressed Sunday by the Turkish police.
Authorities used rubber bullets and tear gas when a group of women wanted to read a statement out loud, the independent Birgün newspaper wrote on Monday. According to the feminist platform “Ankara”, organizer of the event, 18 activists were arrested and then released. ” The fight for women’s rights can not be stopped. Long live March 8, “she wrote on her Facebook page.
On the occasion of Women’s Rights Day, protesters have been targeting in recent years the policy pursued by the Islamic-conservative AKP government. The statements of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the role of women are particularly targeted, as when he recommended to give birth to at least three babies.
Violence against women in Turkey is also often singled out. In 2017, 338 women were killed in the country according to the NGO ” We will stop feminicides “. These murders are often committed by spouses or former partners, according to the NGO.
Thursday night, a protest march is planned in the central shopping street of Istanbul, Istiklal.
