Violence against Turkish women sparks anger

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in central Istanbul to denounce violence against women.

Hoisting banners and posters, the mostly-female crowd chanted "you will never walk alone" and "women will live equally."

The demonstration took place just days ahead of International Women's Day, which is marked globally on March 8.

Last year's International Women's Day march ended in clashes when riot police fired tear gas to disperse thousands of people in Istanbul who defied a government ban on the demonstration.

According to government figures, hundreds of women were killed across Turkey in 2020.

Turkish women have staged peaceful demonstrations calling on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government to remain committed to a European treaty on combatting violence against women.

Some officials from Erdogan's Islam-oriented party have spoken in favor of reviewing the agreement to adapt it to Turkey's more conservative values.