Informed Comment Homepage

Thoughts on the Middle East, History and Religion

Header Right

  • Featured
  • US politics
  • Middle East
  • Environment
  • US Foreign Policy
  • Energy
  • Economy
  • Politics
  • About
  • Archives
  • Submissions

© 2025 Informed Comment

  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Feminism
Turkish Women rally re: Abuse by Conservatives over Outfits

Turkish Women rally re: Abuse by Conservatives over Outfits

contributors 08/01/2017

Tweet
Share
Reddit
Email

TeleSur | – –

Istanbul has been widely viewed as a fairly liberal city for women and the LGBT community.

On the weekend, hundreds of Turkish women marched in Istanbul to protest against the abuse meted out from men who demand they dress more conservatively.

Women at the “Don’t Mess With My Outfit” March chanted while holding denim shorts on hangers, to depict the type of offending clothing.

“We will not obey, be silenced, be afraid. We will win through resistance,” the crowds chanted, some hoisting posters and rainbow flags. Some posters displayed the words “Don’t meddle with my headscarf, shorts, outfits.”

Istanbul has been widely viewed as a fairly liberal city for women and the LGBT community, several of whom attended the march to offer support for the women.

But, according to critics, Turkey President Tayyip Erdogan has shown little interest in expanding the rights of minorities, gays and women.

Protesters say that there has been an increase in the number of verbal and physical attacks against women because of their clothing choice.

Abuse

In June, a young woman – Asena Melisa Saglam – was physically attacked by a man on a bus in Istanbul for wearing shorts during Ramadan. “Are you not ashamed of dressing like this during Ramadan?” a video footage showing the man said.

Canan Kaymakci, also, was harassed on the street in Istanbul when a man accused her of wearing provocative clothing, saying she should be careful because she was “turning people on.”

Another woman, Aysegul Terzi, was called a devil and kicked by a man for wearing shorts. Footage showed the man telling her that those who wear shorts “should die.”

Via TeleSur

—————

Related video added by Juan Cole:

Haaretz.com: “Turkish women march in women’s rights protest in Istanbul”

Filed Under: Feminism, Turkey, women

Primary Sidebar

Support Independent Journalism

Click here to donate via PayPal.

Personal checks should be made out to Juan Cole and sent to me at:

Juan Cole
P. O. Box 4218,
Ann Arbor, MI 48104-2548
USA
(Remember, make the checks out to “Juan Cole” or they can’t be cashed)

STAY INFORMED

Join our newsletter to have sharp analysis delivered to your inbox every day.
Warning! Social media will not reliably deliver Informed Comment to you. They are shadowbanning news sites, especially if "controversial."
To see new IC posts, please sign up for our email Newsletter.

Social Media

Bluesky | Instagram

Popular

  • Albanese Sanctions: Marco Rubio now Acting just Like Putin, Charging Human Rights Officials
  • War Criminal Netanyahu nominates Felon Trump for the Nobel Prize
  • Why Faith Leaders are standing up to the Largest pro-Israel Christian Lobby
  • Plans to Concentrate Gaza Palestinians in Rafah Camp a Crime against Humanity
  • Solar Power outstripped all others in Europe last Month for First Time

Gaza Yet Stands


Juan Cole's New Ebook at Amazon. Click Here to Buy
__________________________

Muhammad: Prophet of Peace amid the Clash of Empires



Click here to Buy Muhammad: Prophet of Peace amid the Clash of Empires.

The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam


Click here to Buy The Rubaiyat.
Sign up for our newsletter

Informed Comment © 2025 All Rights Reserved