Tens of thousands take to streets across Turkey for women's rights

PanARMENIAN.Net - Tens of thousands of women took to the streets across Turkey on Wednesday, March 8, marching for women's rights while some also rallied against expanding the president's powers, AFP reports.

In Istanbul over 10,000 people, mostly women, walked the long Istiklal Avenue, chanting "end male-perpetrated violence" and "Tayyip, Tayyip, run, run, we are coming".

"Tayyip" refers to the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who is seeking to create an executive presidency which would see the post of prime minister abolished.

On April 16, the Turkish public will vote on whether to change the current system which the government argues causes instability while critics claim greater powers for Erdogan will lead to one-man rule.

A deep purple dominated the colourful crowds in Istanbul who held placards saying "women are free" and "we are strong united".

The march was organised by multiple women's rights groups and attendees included LGBT individuals, young women, students and also men -- many of whom were carrying "No" posters.

Last year, a woman was attacked in Istanbul for wearing shorts on a public bus while another woman wearing the Islamic headscarf said she was kicked and insulted last month.

Despite a heavy police presence and water cannon trucks on standby, the Istanbul march took place peacefully as they walked from the popular Taksim Square to Sishane on the other end of the avenue on the European side of Istanbul.

Meanwhile in Ankara women hit tambourines and held "No" posters shouting their opposition to giving "one man" all the power.

In the Kurdish-majority southeastern city of Diyarbakir, hundreds of people staged a demonstration for women's rights, dancing and playing music.