Women gather in Cihangir despite police response

Sıraselviler, İstanbul (Photo: Evrim Kepenek/bianet)

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After the Governor's Office of İstanbul banned the 20th Feminist Night March, police have surrounded Taksim Square and İstanbul Avenue.

Putting up barricades on every street leading to İstiklal Avenue, police started removing people from the avenue and the square at noon.

22.20

Women dispersed without police intervention.

21.20

Prevented from heading to İstiklal Avenue, women gathered in Cihangir quarter and read out a statement there.

19.30

Police dispersed women who attempted to head to Taksim Square via Sıraselviler Street, using pepper spray.

Müdahale başladıhttps://t.co/DB9phGtIzR

— Evrim Kepenek (@kepenekevrimm) March 8, 2022

19.00

Women attempted to march towards Sıraselviler Street to rach Taksim Square but were blocked by the police. They opened a banner that reads "feminist revolt."

18.30

Police surrounded women in Firuzağa Neghborhood near Taksim.

17.30

Meanwhile, police did not allow women to take the ferry from the city's Asian-side district of Kadıköy. At least 38 women have been reportedly detained.

Kadıköy

Women’s Day: Taksim Square closed to women, detentions in Kadıköy https://t.co/ZJYt3Vm4Rx pic.twitter.com/Om8qHPySDM

— bianet English (@bianet_eng) March 8, 2022

13.00

The Taksim subway station has been completely shut down and trains don't stop there. The İstiklal Avenue entrance of the Şişhane subway station and the Taksim-Kabataş funicular line have been closed as well.

Yet women started gathering in alleys around İstiklal Avenue at noon.

(EMK/HA/VK)