We Women Will Be in Taksim, Istanbul, on March 8!
As women of Turkey, for 11 years we have raised our voices in the streets every March 8 with a night march against patriarchy, male domination, sexism, heterosexism, capitalism and war. Since last March 8, we have left behind another year in which attacks on women increased.
Every new day we read news of another woman’s murder. In Turkey, three women are killed every day. Murderers and rapists go unpunished. The state works to prevent divorce, not male violence. The AKP alone is the government, the judiciary and parliament; it has taken away our right to abortion, and the doors of public hospitals are closed to us. It blocks access to contraception. The government stops at nothing to control women’s bodies. It is preparing to enact laws that will condemn us to insecure work.
There are very few centers where women can stay and receive counseling; their number is merely symbolic. The Ministry of Social and Family Policies, established in place of the Ministry for Women, is trying to turn accommodation and counseling centers into centers that protect the family and force women into the family.
As women who were in the streets during the Gezi Resistance, we opposed the state’s sexist policies. During this resistance we faced extensive police harassment and violence. Women had also faced police violence during March 8 celebrations in Beyazıt in 2005. The European Court of Human Rights (DMME/AİHM) ruled against the Turkish state over this police violence.
Despite this police violence and obstruction, women in Istanbul continue their resistance in Taksim with the words “We will not abandon the nights or the streets.” Today Taksim too is surrounded by police.
On this street where we have raised our voices for women’s freedom for 11 years, on March 8 police threats, violence and pepper spray once again confront us. Even though the pressure and oppression against us continue, we do not give up our struggle; we do not abandon our revolt against male domination! As we have throughout these 11 years, this year too we feminists will hold a night march in Taksim on March 8.
The AKP government, which attacks us in every area of life, is trying to take away the road on which we march. Despite all the bans, we will come together in Taksim and raise our voices. We call on all the women of the world, even if they cannot be with us in Taksim, to raise their voices for women’s freedom against police violence and to act in solidarity with us. Together we will overcome the police barricades in Taksim.
Let the father come, let the husband come, let the police come, let the baton come! Revolt once again, revolt once again, freedom once again!
Istanbul Feminist Collective