Female protesters clash with Erdogan's 'Islamist' riot police on International Women's Day.

Female protesters clash with Erdogan's 'Islamist' riot police on International Women's Day.(TZ).

On March 8, International Women's Day was observed throughout Turkey with events such as organized walks, dances, and street theater. However, the day's notable incident was a confrontation between police and women involved in a protest march in İstanbul.

International Women's Day is held to celebrate the political, economic and social achievements of women throughout the world. Nevertheless, the march held on Saturday in İstanbul to protest violence against women was marked by a conflict between activists, consisting mostly of women, and the police.

Thousands of women marched from İstiklal street in Beyoğlu towards Taksim square, carrying banners and shouting slogans. However, the march was blocked by riot police who prevented their entrance into the square.The protests were broken up by riot police, but not before protesters had sprayed red ink at riot police's shields.

Women in the Avanos district of the Cappadocia region of Turkey demonstrated wearing shirts that read “My body, my choice,” “If there is no equality there is no love,” “Scream so that violence will be silenced” and “No to male sovereignty.” 

Some protesters carried a banner that said “Only this year, 1169 women were victims of honor killings.”

Studies show that the problem which most concerns women in Turkey is violence. Almost 40 percent of all women have been victims of domestic violence at least once in their lives. Honor killings and child marriages and other discriminating practices still need to be addressed.

Moreover, female illiteracy is still a grave problem in many parts of the country, with many girls being removed from school at an early age in spite of laws mandating education for all.

Speaking to Cihan News Agency about violence against women in Turkey, the Women's Rights Commission in Eskişehir stated that it was not possible to make progress unless those who hold political power stop using the language of violence. The group also asserted that “Women are becoming poorer because they either lose their jobs or are forced to work without social security, with the excuse of the current financial crises. The government's policies cause torment, rape, honor killings and poverty for women.”Read the full story here.