Turkish women take to the streets to demand equality
Activists say 15 years of rule by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has eroded women’s rights, even as he has vowed to end domestic violence and strengthen the role of women in Turkish society.
Thousands of women marched in central Istanbul today to demand an end to violence and greater equality with men in a country lagging behind its European neighbors in most benchmarks.
“We won’t shut up, we are not afraid, we won’t obey,” the crowd chanted, waving signs that read “When women jump, it’s a revolution,” joining worldwide commemorations from Afghanistan to Iceland on International Women’s Day, which celebrates women's rights.
“I came here to see that I am not alone. We are all fed up with attacks on women and children and impunity for men,” said Busra, a 24-year-old engineering student who did not want her last name used.
She may have been thinking about reports this week that a police officer was acquitted of rape charges after the alleged victim was found to have men’s telephone numbers and pictures on her phone.
