Feminist Night March to be staged in Istanbul tomorrow despite a ban

On 8 March, International Women’s Struggle Day, there will again be a “Feminist Night March” in Istanbul. The Feminist Collective has been organising the evening demonstration to mark the end of the important day since 2003. The event is considered the highlight of the women’s movements in Turkey and is to take place for the twentieth time this year. The slogan is: “This rebellion will not end until a feminist world is established.” In recent years, however, the patriarchal government of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has tried to stop the rebellion of the women’s movement, which is now considered the strongest opposition in Turkey. And so it came as no surprise that this year’s night march of feminists will also not take place according to the will of the political leadership in Ankara.

The Istanbul governor’s office announced on Monday that the route of the demonstration (from Taksim Square in the central district of Beyoğlu via the Istiklal Avenue to Tünel Square) falls within those parts of the Bosporus metropolis where a strict ban on assembly has been in force since last Thursday – a total of twenty districts. According to an order issued by the governor, who is under the authority of the Ministry of the Interior, it is illegal to hold any events on the occasion of 8 March.

The organising committee of the Night March does not seem to be the least bit impressed in the face of the ban order. The mobilisation to participate in the event continues undeterred, especially on the net. A statement from the Feminist Collective distributed via Twitter reads: “Despite all obstacles, we are on our feminist night march every year on 8 March to stand up for our rights, our lives, our existence, equality and work. Nineteen times we have marched and we will do it again for the twentieth time. We are here, we are everywhere! This city, the streets, the squares are ours! Let’s go to the 20th Feminist Night March!”