ISTANBUL — Thousands of women took to the streets of Istanbul, Turkey, to mark International Women’s Day Friday despite a ban by the government, demanding equality and change of laws to protect women and help them gain their rights in the country and around the world.
Waving purple flags as a sign of International Women’s Day, they filled the air with slogans and rallying cries despite a ban on rallies by authorities.
“The world would shake if women were free,” “Resist for rebellion, resist for freedom,” and “Woman, Life, Freedom,” they chanted.
While the police had blocked access to the streets leading to the protest location several hours ahead, some women said they figured out their own ways to get there and participate in the protest.
Women shout slogans during a protest to mark International Women’s Day in Istanbul, Turkey, March 8, 2024.
Khalil Hamra/AP
“I have been here in this coffeeshop today at 1 pm to make it here at 7:30 pm,” Irem, 35, told ABC News.
“Women’s rights are basically nonexistent in Turkey right now,” she added.
Turkey was the first country to join the Istanbul Convention in March 2012 which aims at preventing gender-based violence by setting legally binding standards to protect victims and punish perpetrators. However, 9 years later, in 2021, Turkey became the first and only country that left the convention in a decision made by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Islamic leaning government who believed the treaty eroded their conservative values.
A protester shouts slogans during a march marking the International Women’s Rights Day near Taksim Square in Istanbul, Turkey, March 8, 2024.
Yasin Akgul/AFP via Getty Images
Irem said the Turkish government has been backsliding in terms of women’s rights and mentioned the rising number of femicide cases across Turkey over the past 10 to15 years.
According to We Will Stop Femicide, a prominent activist group in Turkey, 338 women have been murdered since March 2023, and 248 died under suspicious circumstances.
The campaign added that 212 of these women were killed at home, 134 of them by their husbands, 47 by their boyfriends, and 36 by their ex-husbands. Two of the victims did not know their murderers at all, according to the group.
A protester holds a sign during a march to mark International Women’s Day in Istanbul, March 8, 2024.
ABC News
Protestors called for more unity among women and for finding ways to get out of the situation and make things better for women and members of minority groups such as the LGBTOAI community.
Yagmour, a young protestor wearing an all-purple outfit and makeup, said she has attended the 8th of March protests in different cities of Turkey over the years. Despite her disappointment with the government’s policies, she said she keeps up her hopes in women’s power from around the world to pay attention to each other and also to the situation in Turkey.
“As women, it is important that we all stay together, no matter what nationality,” she told ABC News.
In recent years, Turkish women have been at the forefront of a powerful movement advocating for equal rights and gender equality in the country. Despite facing numerous challenges and obstacles, these women have continued to protest and speak out against discriminatory practices and policies that limit their freedom and opportunities.
One of the most notable examples of this ongoing struggle is the ban on women’s rights protests in Turkey. In 2018, the Turkish government imposed a ban on all events related to International Women’s Day, citing security concerns. This move was met with widespread criticism and condemnation from women’s rights activists, who saw it as a blatant attempt to suppress their voices and silence their demands for equality.
Despite the ban, Turkish women have refused to be silenced. They have taken to the streets in defiance of the government’s restrictions, organizing protests and demonstrations to demand their rights and challenge the patriarchal norms that have long oppressed them. These women have shown incredible courage and determination in the face of adversity, refusing to back down in their fight for equality.
One of the key issues that Turkish women are protesting against is the high rates of violence and discrimination they face on a daily basis. According to statistics, Turkey has one of the highest rates of femicide in the world, with an average of three women being killed every day by their partners or family members. This alarming trend has sparked outrage among women’s rights activists, who are calling for stronger laws and measures to protect women from violence and hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.
In addition to violence, Turkish women are also fighting for equal opportunities in education, employment, and politics. Despite making up nearly half of the country’s population, women are severely underrepresented in positions of power and leadership. They face discrimination and barriers that prevent them from fully participating in society and realizing their full potential.
The protests led by Turkish women have not gone unnoticed. Their voices have been heard both domestically and internationally, drawing attention to the urgent need for change and reform in Turkey. Women’s rights activists are calling for the government to repeal the ban on protests and take concrete steps to address the systemic inequalities that continue to hold women back.
As Turkish women continue to protest for equal rights despite the ban, it is clear that their determination and resilience will not be easily extinguished. They are a powerful force for change in Turkey, challenging outdated attitudes and pushing for a more inclusive and equitable society for all. It is crucial that their voices are heard and their demands are met, so that all women in Turkey can live free from discrimination and violence.
