Turkish feminists and LGBTQ activists held a traditional march on International Women’s Day, at Istanbul’s Taksim Square on Friday, demanding more protection and rights for women subjected to violence.
The protesters exhibited numerous banners and placards denouncing violence against women and feminicide, while also calling for more rights.
“This march is organised on Taksim Square every year. In Turkey you have a big pogrom of women. Me being a female journalist, I am compelled to be here every year for the women who are discriminated, who are subjected to violence, who are killed and who cannot find justice,” said Muge Kocoglu, a protester.
“We will always be here. This is the seventeenth time we are having this night march, for the eighth of March. This is a feminist march. And we will be here next year as well. So, many things are happening, I cannot say many, very hopeful things about the future of Turkey, but we will continue to struggle for our rights,” said Duygu Ozturk, another protester.