10/03/2025 | Writer: Kaos GL
Police prevented the rainbow flag in Ankara, Izmir and Mersin. Hundreds of women and LGBTI+s were detained after the Night March in Istanbul. Women and LGBTI+'s took to the streets on 8 March despite all attempts to prevent them.
Women and LGBTI+'s came together in daytime rallies and Feminist Night Marches all over Turkey on 8 March. Women and LGBTI+s emphasised the struggle against poverty, family policies and LGBTI+ hostility.
In the statements; Reaction was shown to the declaration of 2025 as the ‘Family Year’ and the draft law targeting LGBTI+s.
LGBTI+'s waved their rainbow flags in the fields despite all the efforts of the police to prevent them.
Ankara
Before the Feminist Night March in Ankara, women and LGBTI+'s met at Kolej Metro station with the call of Ankara Women's Platform for 8 March International Working Women's Day.
The police prevented, barricaded and attacked women and LGBTI+s who wanted to march to Güvenpark. Women and LGBTI+s staged a sit-in protest on Mithatpaşa Street against the police who told women and LGBTI+s ‘We don't want to see the LGBT flag’ and reacted to the police prevention with applause and slogans.
Women and LGBTI+s made a statement on Ziya Gökalp Street after the sit-in protest.
8 March in Ankara continued with Feminist Night March. Women and LGBTI+s in Ankara met in Yüksel Street for the Ankara Feminist Night March. The police tried to prevent the march from taking place in Yüksel Street. Women and LGBTI+'s marched to Sakarya Street despite the police prevention.
Women and LGBTI+s made a press statement on Sakarya Street and chanted slogans for KaosGL.org Editor-in-Chief Yıldız Tar, who was arrested on 21 February, and said ‘Hello to Yıldız, continue the struggle’.
Istanbul
In Istanbul, 8 March started with a rally organised by the 8 March Women's Platform in Kadıköy. The police tried to prevent the entrance of LGBTI+ flags to the area. It was reported that many LGBTI+ people were not allowed to leave the area and were detained during the rally. The police prevented journalists who wanted to take footage.
Reacting to the detentions, women and LGBTI+s chanted slogans ‘Continue the struggle until the detainees are released!’.
8 March Women's Platform made a statement later in the night and said ‘We continue to follow the detentions. We are in struggle until all our friends are released!’
In Istanbul, 8 March continued with the Feminist Night March. Women and LGBTI+s gathered at Sıraselviler Street in Taksim, Istanbul. Before the march, the police tried to prevent the march by blocking all side roads leading to Taksim with barricades. Women and LGBTI+s were also prevented from travelling to Taksim by metro.
Women and LGBTI+s reacted to the police announcement ‘Disperse’ with applause and whistles. Women and LGBTI+s organised the Feminist Night March by overcoming all the barricades set up by the police.
After the completion of the march and the press statement, the Feminist Night March Committee reported that approximately 200 women and LGBTI+s were detained, ‘Our friends in the blockade are being detained with violence! The police, who are supposed to ensure women's safety, are using violence against women on 8 March!’
Lawyers of the detainees were not allowed to enter Vatan Security Directorate. Later in the night, most of the detainees were released, while trans activist İris Mozalar was referred to the court for arrest. The court released Mozalar with a ban on leaving the country and judicial control conditions.
Mersin
Women and LGBTI+s gathered at Kushimoto Street for the 11th Feminist Night March in Mersin this year. However, the march was blockaded and prevented by the police.
The police did not allow the event on the grounds that ‘a search will be conducted’ before the march. Women and LGBTI+'s protested the decision.
While the police prevented the march, Muamma LGBTI+ Association wanted to enter the area with the rainbow flag. However, the police did not allow the flag to be carried and blocked the exits from the association building. Upon the reactions, the members of the association were allowed into the area, while their banners and banners were thrown away.
Then, a trans woman entered the area using the rainbow flag as a headscarf. However, she was soon targeted by the police and wanted to be detained. During the brawl, women continued their resistance by saying ‘We will not continue the march until the detained trans woman is released’.
Izmir
Women and LGBTI+s gathered in front of Alsancak Eski Leman Kültür for the 8th Feminist Night March in Izmir and marched in front of Türkan Saylan Cultural Centre with rainbow and trans flags despite police attempts to prevent them. In the press statement made after the march, the anti-LGBTI+ policies of the government were reacted.
Antalya
In Antalya, women and LGBTI+s marched from Aydın Kanza Park to Cumhuriyet Square with the call of Antalya Women's Platform. The press statement was held at Cumhuriyet Square. The press statement reacted to the government's family policies, hate crimes against LGBTI+s and anti-LGBTI+ sentiment.
Bursa
On 8 March International Women's Day, women and LGBTI+s came together with the call of Bursa Women's Platform and marched in Fomara Square. In the march, which took place despite police obstructions and pressures, the participants showed great resistance against the ‘family year’ policies. Women and LGBTI+s marching with the banner ‘Neither this year will be the family year, nor will it be the year of the broken arm!’ raised their struggle for freedom on the streets.
Before the 8 March International Women's Day march, the police called the Bursa Women's Platform and threatened that ‘LGBTI+ materials will not be allowed in the area.’ Barricades were set up in the march area and the police stated that carrying any symbol, banner or flag related to LGBTI+s would not be allowed, otherwise the march would be prevented.
The march called for the release of KaosGL.org Editor-in-Chief Yıldız Tar, who was arrested on 21 February, and all political prisoners. ‘We are struggling for the freedom of Ozan Kaplanoğlu, Yıldız Tar, our feminist comrades and all political prisoners as soon as possible,’ the statement said, emphasising that pressures cannot break the determination to struggle.
Erzincan
Women and LGBTI+s organised a march and press statement in Erzincan with the participation of EMEP, Katre Women's Solidarity, 29 October Women's Association and Eğitim-Sen. The march cortege started from Çağlayan bus stops at 12:30 and reached Cumhuriyet Square at 13:00. A person unfurling a rainbow flag and a member of Katre Women's Solidarity were called to testify on 9 March for unfurling a rainbow flag in the square.
Tags: human rights, women, media
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