Turkey: police dispersed women march against domestic and sexual violence

Armenian women did march in Yerevan to protest domestic and sexual violence. This action was organised to coincide with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

In Turkey, women groups were not able to fully exercise their right to protest. Instead, they were met by... police barricades. As Bianet reports, police dispersed attempts at marching in Istanbul:

"The police did not allow the march of the women on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

About three hundred women shouted the slogan “Barricades for murderers, not for women” in front of the police barricade.

The November 25 Women’s Platform’s exhibition to protest the violence against women, which was held in front of the Galatasaray High School at Taksim, Istanbul at noon time yesterday, was dispersed by the police resorting violence.

The women were at the Streetcar Station at 19:30 to march to the Galatasaray High School, only to be stopped by the police. Platform's spokespeople said that they had reported the march and they had been replied positively. The Police told the women that they could hold the press release, but would not be permitted to march. According to the laws, marching does not require any permission. The women protested the police with whistles, slogans and songs until 21:30."

Bianet notes that women groups decided to mark the March 8 Women’s Day at the same place.

*photo - via Bianet