Police Attack Women Dancing to Protest Male Violence in Ankara

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Police attacked the women who protested male violence in the capital city of Ankara yesterday evening (December 12).

Women wanted to gather in Güvenpark in Kızılay to protest male violence with the LasTesis dance performance that has originated from the women of Chile and gradually spread to several other countries of the world.

As the police closed the Güvenpark, women came together in front of the nearby Kızılay Shopping Mall. Attacking the women there, the police have taken almost 10 women into custody.

Police previously attacked women in İstanbul

Women who danced to protest male violence and sexual assaults in Kadıköy, İstanbul last Sunday (December 8) were also attacked by the police, who then detained seven women, namely We Will Stop Femicide Spokesperson Fidan Ataselim and Representative Ayşen Ece Kavas, Nisa Kör, Seda Elhan Barbaros, Yaprak Okatalı and Sevda Yeniköylü. The women were released on probation on December 9.

The women faced the charges of "violating the Law 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations, insulting the President and degrading the State of the Republic of Turkey and Institutions and Bodies of the State as per the Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK)."

Soylu: If they call the state 'rapists'...

Speaking at "Adem Metan Show" presented by Adem Metan on Radio D, Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu said that he sent a letter to Hürriyet columnist Ertuğrul Özkök, who penned an article criticizing police intervention:

"Excuse me, but if the dancing women call 'the state, police and judges rapists and killers', how can we solve it?

"Turkey is on the same line with Europe in terms of its laws on violence against women and murder. We need support from all segments about this issue. We expect support. We do not expect an ideological attitude.

"I said in the letter, 'I wish they had danced, but not called the state murderers or rapists.' We will continue establishing an environment of peace." (EKN/SD)