Erdoğan Said ‘They Whistled Call to Prayer’, Marches of Call to Prayer Held in Taksim

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After President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan targeted the women who attended the 17th Feminist Night March in Taksim by claiming that they "whistled to the call to prayer", a group of people gathered in Taksim and chanted the slogan, "May the hands reaching out for call to prayer be broken."

Directed by the police from the side streets towards the Tarlabaşı Avenue, the group then attempted to march to the İstanbul Provincial Office of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP).

CLICK - Police Attack Feminist Night March

The police dispersed the group with plastic bullets.

Heading for the İstiklal Avenue after the intervention of the police, the group was again directed towards the Tarlabaşı Avenue by the police.

Kaya: 'They distort facts by abusing religious values'

In the meanwhile, a watch was kept in front of the HPD Office in Tarlabaşı. 

HDP İstanbul MP Hüda Kaya, who also attended the watch in front of HDP İstanbul Provincial Office, stated the following:

"What we are going through now is an indication of what the government has lost in the period leading up to March 31 [local elections]. There has remained nothing that they can promise to the people: Neither an economic recovery, nor justice, freedom, peace, humanity or morality. They have corrupted, seized and destroyed everything. They are trying to continue their sultanate by distorting the facts with lies.

"There is only one thing left in their hands: Abusing religious values and people's sensitivities and distorting the facts. Just as they tried to set agendas that would abuse the beliefs of people during Gezi by saying 'They attacked our sister wearing headscarf', they will understand that they have really lost it in the period leading up to March 31."

CLICK - From Women to Erdoğan: Don't Distort It, Our Revolt is Against Police Barricade

Grey Wolves gathered in Tepebaşı

In the wake of targeting statements of Erdoğan, İstanbul Provincial Organization of Grey Wolves, a nationalist group affiliated with the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), made a call to gather at Galatasaray Square in Taksim at 11 p.m.

Starting their march in front of Galatasaray High School, the group gathered in Tepebaşı and made a statement for the press there. (EKN/SD)

* Photographs: Twitter - İstanbul Grey Wolves