International Women's Day: Tear Gas Fired at Protesters in Turkey

On Friday, March 8, women's rights activists celebrated International Women's Day in various forms, from protests and strikes to discussion sessions and celebrations. In Turkey, riot police fired tear gas at thousands of demonstrators on International Women's Day in Istanbul. According to the Associated Press, thousands of people, most of whom were women, gathered on Istiklal Street in Istanbul, but the police declared the demonstration illegal. The police blocked the protesters' path to one of the main streets and fired tear gas at them. Turkish authorities have banned demonstrations in the country for security reasons in recent years. Worldwide protests were reported, with one of the first gatherings occurring in Madrid, where hundreds of women demanded equal rights by banging pots and pans in a society said to still be dominated by men. As Spain approaches parliamentary elections on April 28, gender equality has become a contentious issue. Vox, a new far-right party in Spain, which polls suggest will enter parliament for the first time in the upcoming elections, has called for the repeal of the 'Law on the Fight Against Violence Against Women,' which holds significant historical importance in Spanish society and politics. The UGT, one of Spain's largest labor unions, announced that at least 6 million people participated in a two-hour symbolic strike for Women's Day, aimed at demanding equal job rights and benefits for women. The union noted that this year's participation was significantly higher than last year's. The Spanish government stated it would not release statistics on the strike's participation. Tens of thousands of women, many of whom were students, marched through the streets of central Madrid, chanting slogans and carrying placards that read 'Freedom, Equality, Friendship' and 'My way of dressing should not affect the respect I deserve.' Many protesters wore purple clothing or accessories, the symbolic color of the women's rights campaign. Another event in Madrid featured over 200 female cyclists riding through the city center, all dressed in purple shirts. Reuters adds that large-scale demonstrations in support of women's rights and against violence towards women also took place in other European cities, including Berlin, Athens, and Kyiv. In Paris, Amnesty International supporters gathered outside the Saudi Arabian embassy, holding placards advocating for women's rights and calling for the release of women's rights activists imprisoned in that country. Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, presented the first special women's rights award at a ceremony at the Élysée Palace, named in memory of Simone Veil, a former French minister and abortion rights activist, to honor the work of Aisa Domara, a Kenyan women's rights activist. In London, Meghan, the wife of Prince Harry, along with several prominent figures from cinema and music, and Julia Gillard, the former Prime Minister of Australia, participated in a discussion session on contemporary women's issues.