'Feminist Night March' reference to President Erdoğan: 'We know it from the men who say, "If you don't obey me, you deserve a beating"'

Following the call to Taksim for the 22nd Feminist Night March in Istanbul, the Istanbul Governor's Office decided to close the Taksim and Şişhane stations on the M2 Yenikapı-Hacıosman metro line due to March 8.

Metro Istanbul announced the decision on its social media account.

While the subways were being closed, police set up barricades on the streets, closing Taksim Square and the streets leading to the square.

Despite the closure of the subways, women gathered in Taksim Sıraselviler.

The women gathered there began their march by chanting slogans such as "Everywhere is Taksim, everywhere is resistance", "Woman, life, freedom" and "We are not silent, we are not afraid, we do not obey".

The women, who ended their march in front of the Cihangir Parking Garage, read a press statement there.

"WE FOUND THE POWER OF RESISTANCE IN FEMINIST SOLIDARITY"

The following statements were included in the press release:

"Today is March 8, 2024. We are at the 22nd Feminist Night March. We have been struggling not just for 22 years, but for as long as we have known ourselves, with the strength we draw from women who have fought for centuries and resisted men. This year, too, we found the way to fight against patriarchy and the political pressures that draw their power from patriarchy in feminism, and the power of resistance in feminist solidarity. The feminist struggle has given us not only the determination to cope with hostility toward women and LGBTI+ individuals, but also our belief that we can change the world every day, everywhere," it was stated.

"WE WOMEN KNOW THIS THREAT WELL FROM THE MALE MEDIA"

"After the February 6 earthquakes, we saw in the harshest way how this order works. Houses were destroyed, buildings were demolished, streets and squares disappeared, but the burden on women to rebuild life did not disappear. Even when there was no home, there was exploitation of domestic labor. For days and months, women were expected to create order out of nothing, to take care of their children, husbands, the sick, the elderly, and the disabled, and to wash laundry and dishes without water. They were forced to share tents and containers with husbands and relatives who committed violence. They completed a year without access to health, nutrition, safety, or their rights. They heard the phrase 'If you don't vote for us, this is what happens' from the very top of politics. We women know this threat well from the men who say, 'If you don't obey me, you deserve a beating,' and from the male media, the judiciary, and society that say, 'If you are on the street at that hour, if you are dressed like that, if you are drinking alcohol, you deserve to be raped.'"

"OUR LIFE IS FEMINIST STRUGGLE"

"According to unofficial data, over 300 women were killed by men in 2023," the statement said, adding, "In just two days, 9 women were murdered either within marriage, while trying to divorce, or after divorce, despite restraining orders. We address male violence, the failure to prevent violence, and male dominance as a social system. We bring to the agenda that law enforcement does not do its job, that Law No. 6284 is not effectively implemented, the sexist judgments of judges, and the inadequacy of state shelters. We will not give up on imagining a world without war, patriarchy, transphobia, homophobia, capitalist labor exploitation, and racism. For this, our hope is the feminist struggle. Our power is the feminist struggle. Our life is the feminist struggle."

The 22nd Feminist Night March is being held in Istanbul with high participation for International Women's Day on March 8.https://t.co/7s0CDlyOCm#FeministNightMarch pic.twitter.com/0CW6Pl1kiO

— 12punto (@12puntocomtr) March 8, 2024

News Source: 12punto