Detained Women Released on Probation

* Photo: Lawyer Tuba Torun

Click to read the article in Turkish

Women protested male violence in Kadıköy, İstanbul by performing the "Las Tesis" dance of Chilean women yesterday (December 8).

Police intervened against the women after their protest. We Will Stop Femicides Platform Ayşen Ece Kavas, We Will Stop Femicides Platform Secretary General Fidan Ataselim, Sevda Yeniköylü, Nisa Kör, Yaprak Okatalı and Seda Elhan Barbaros were detained.

CLICK - Women Protesting Male Violence by Dancing Charged with 'Degrading the State'

The detained women stood before the Prosecutor's Office in the İstanbul Anatolian Courthouse in Kartal today. Following the legal proceedings against the women, lawyer Tuba Torun has announced on social media that all of the women have been released on probation:

"Our friends have been released on probation. But, you need to know that: We are actually punished again. Giving a signature once a week is a heavy blow to the human freedom. All of these shouldn't have been experienced in the first place. Let us not forget it ever and continue our struggle all the stronger #LasTesis."

Lawyer Yeşilırmak: They were battered

Being detained after their protest, the women were handcuffed behind the back. Lawyer Esin Yeşilırmak has indicated that there are serious signs of trauma on the bodies of Ayşen Ece Kavas and Yaprak Okatalı. She has also indicated that they noted the helmet number of the riot police officer who battered Kavas and submitted a petition of complaint against the officer.

CLICK - 'Don't Stop Women, Stop Feminicides'

As announced by the lawyers earlier today, women had been facing the possible 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)."

Releasing a statement about the detained women, the İstanbul Governorship indicated that the remarks "you are the rapist, you are the killer, police officers, judges, state and president" in the Turkish translation of the song have constituted a crime. (EMK/SD)