Thousands of women gathered in Kadıköy for the big march to mark the International Women’s Day on the call of 8 March Platform formed by various feminist and women’s organisations in Istanbul. Demonstrators have marched against the repressions on women’s bodies, identities, femicide, as well as against the exploitation of their labour and male and state violence.

Tens of thousands of women have gathered today in Front of Numune Hospital to march to Kadiköy port, where a big rally is taking place to mark the International Women's Day. The main banner of the march read “We are enhancing our rebellion and solidarity against disregarding of our identities, exploitation of our labour and male and state violence”.

The rally in Istanbul on 8 March each year brings many women from different backgrounds and is marked by massive participation of Kurdish women, which is also the case in this year’s march.

“Women to stop murders through self-defence”, “I am a woman and the fighter of my own struggle”, “We demand job security and a life without violence”, “State protecting the men murdering women”, “We are not mourning, We are rebelling”, “We don’t leave the streets”, “We are in the streets against male violence”, “My body, my decision”, “Jin, Jiyan, Azadi (Woman, Life, Freedom)” were among dozens of slogans women shout against male dominance and for freedom.

While women continued their enthusiastic march, raising their demands for freedom and condemning the misogynistic policies of the AKP government, they have not forgotten the women who disappeared under custody and those who fell in Kobanê and Sinjar, carrying the pictures of those women also.

The rally has started after the all women reached Kadiköy port where the statements of 8 March Platform and Urgent Action Group against Murders of Women have been read out firstly. HDP deputy Pervin Buldan, representative of Domestic Workers Trade Union, Ayten Kargın, representative from women on strike at Maltepe University, Sehriban Kaya are also making speeches before the beginning of the music performance of Sarya Band and Ahu Irani.

Women in Istanbul will also hold feminist night march this evening at 19:00 on Istiklal Avenue. Feminist night march is organised by Istanbul Feminist Collective each year on each 8 March since 2003.