Women have organised a series of activities and actions all over Kurdistan to mark 8 March, International Women's Day.

URFA

Urfa Provincial Women's Platform held a press conference in front of Ahmet Bahçıvan Business Center to mark 8 March. HDP Urfa MP Ayse Sürücü joined the press conference.

Speaking on behalf of the women, Dilek Polat said that they would not allow their lives to be destroyed by discriminatory policies and war, which make people hostile to one another.

HDP deputy Ayse Sürücü said that over 25 women were affected by the OHAL (State of Emergency) and KHK and were dismissed. “The murders of women - she said - have increased during the AKP years in power. Despite so much pressure and death women are resisting.”

Sürücü added: "Leyla Güven is asking for one thing, and this is the end of isolation against Öcalan and his right to meet with his family and lawyers. Leyla Güven is demanding respect of Turkey's own laws. We reiterated our call on the Ministry of Justice on 8 March: respect the law.”

VAN

HDP co-chair Pervin Buldan, HDP Van MP Muazzez Orhan, Van provincial and district municipal co-chairs and a large number of women delivered carnations in Van today and invited women to the 8 March rally to be held tomorrow. Buldan was greeted with great enthusiasm.

KARS

HDP Women's Council in Kars held a women's meeting to mark 8 March. Participating in the event Kars Municipality co-mayoral candidates, Şevin Alaca and Ayhan Bilgen made shot speeches to draw attention to the role of women in this delicate process.

BATMAN

The Free Women's Movement (TJA) and the HDP will organize a rally in the area next to the Batman Old Town Stadium on 8 March, Friday. Many women are expected to attend the rally which will begin at 1 pm.

Women in the HDP who continue their work to ensure maximum participation to the rally by distributing leaflets on Turgut Ozal Bulvari. The women saluted Leyla Güven's resistance.

MERSİN

Mersin Women's Platform and Women Together Forces Mersin Formation will hold a rally on Friday 8 March. The rally will begin at 7 pm in Kushimato Street with the slogan “We are after our rights.”

Günebakan Women's Association and platform member Zübeyde Akpınar stated that many rights such as the Anti-Violence Law no. 6284 were taken away from women by the AKP government. "We will not accept this”, she said.

Women's Platform member Hatice Ucar said: “We do not want our children who we raise with love to be killed in wars.”

Education and Science Workers Union (Eğitim Sen) Mersin branch secretary Elif Yasar said: "We will not lose again" and added that women will be in the streets to stand against violence.

ANTEP

HDP Women's Council in Antep held a women's meeting in the party building as part of the 8 March activities.

HDP Amed MP Semra Güzel, HDP Provincial co-chair Sultan Bayındır and Peace Mothers, as well as many women attended the meeting.

HDP provincial co-chair Bayındır greeted the hunger strike resistance against isolation.

Güzel MP said: “The hunger strike will continue until this isolation ends. Hunger strikes spread to all prisons. Our friends are on hunger strike inside and outside of prison. The state is now in a difficult situation. To break this resistance, the fascist mindset does whatever it can. However, this resistance will not be broken.”