Turkish governor says women's gathering banned over public security concerns

Turkish governor says women's gathering banned over public security concerns
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A governor has banned a gathering for raising awareness on violence against women to "preserve public order, prevent crime, and defend others' rights and freedoms."

A gathering to be held in Istanbul on 25 November, which marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, was banned by a governor on grounds of public security concerns.

The governor of the district of Beyoglu released a statement in which the women's rights groups who called for participation in the gathering were listed, as it said:

"In consideration of the posts on social media it has been assessed that the planned event may cause public outrage because of certain social sensitivities, thus may threaten social harmony, that provoking physical and verbal confrontations are likely to take place between our citizens and organizing groups or individuals, and that difficulties may be faced in preserving public order, preventing crime, and defending others' rights and freedoms."

25 November was designated by the United Nations General Assembly as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and the objective is to raise global awareness that women across the world are subjected to rape, domestic violence and other forms of violence.

The women's groups who made calls for the gathering include 25 November Women's Platform, Purple Solidarity, Feminist Lawyers, and Istanbul women's branch of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP)

Eight women who were distributing handouts for the gathering were detained by the police and taken into custody on Tuesday.

25 November Women's Platform said upon the arrests:

"Your justice favors men! While murderers of women walk free, women who have called for struggle against violence targeting women were sent to court. We do not want "men's justice" but true justice! Release the women!"