* Photo: Twitter
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Detained in İstanbul yesterday (March 8) while trying to reach İstiklal Avenue for the 18th Feminist Night March on the occasion of International Women's Day, 32 women and two men have been released from custody.
Gathering in Taksim to attend the march planned to be held along the İstiklal Avenue in Beyoğlu, women could not reach either Taksim Square or the nearby İstiklal Avenue as all roads leading to the avenue had been closed by police in line with the ban of the Governor's Office.
A group of women tried to march from Sıraselviler Street to Taksim Square. While they were attempting to enter the square, police attacked them with tear gas. 32 women and two men were detained during this intervention. The detained were released in the morning today.
What happened?
* Photos: bianet Ahead of the 18th Feminist Night March planned to be held along the İstiklal Avenue in Taksim, Beyoğlu on the occasion of March 8 International Women's Day, İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality announced that Taksim subway station would be closed as of 11 a.m. in line with the decision of the Governor's Office of İstanbul. "This practice has nothing to do with İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality", added the statement. İstanbul Security Directorate also announced that several roads leading to Taksim Square and İstiklal Avenue would be closed as of 3 p.m. Gümüşsuyu Street, Tarlabaşı Boulevard, Refik Saydam Street and Sıraselviler Street were set as alternative routes. Answering a question about March 8 celebrations to be held in İstanbul earlier last week, Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu said on March 4, "You cannot do it on İstiklal Avenue; you can do it wherever you like, apart from it." CLICK - Women Don't Leave Taksim Despite Police Intervention As the Governor's Office of İstanbul announced that the 18th Feminist Night March would not be allowed to take place along the İstiklal Avenue, women started gathering in the side streets leading to the avenue which was closed by the police as of 3 p.m. While the police closed all streets leading to the avenue, women's organizations invited women to Taksim to hold the march on 7 p.m. However, the police did not allow the women to enter either Taksim Square or İstiklal Avenue. Attacking women with tear gas and shields, police also took 32 women and two men into custody during the intervention. |
(RT/SD)
