Istanbul - Members of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Women’s Council came together in front of Istanbul’s Bakırköy Closed Women’s Prison as part of their activities for International Women’s Organization. They released purple balloons to the sky.

HDP Istanbul MP Züleyha Gülüm, members of the Istanbul Peace Mothers Initiative, and many women attended the event. They wrote the names of female political prisoners on the balloons and released them to the sky.

“We are here to be in solidarity with women political prisoners”

HDP Istanbul MP Züleyha Gülüm made a speech during the activity.

“As International Women's Day approaches, we are here to be in solidarity with our friends who are held in prison for taking part in the women's struggle for freedom and for defending their lives. While women participate in politics and decision-making mechanisms with equal representation thanks to our co-presidency system, the attacks are carried out against our achievements. Women are held in prison today because they object to being “reasonable” women because they stand against the deprivation of their freedom because they say 'we will not give up our achievements',” she said in her speech.

Noting that the government does not protect women, Züleyha Gülüm said that they held this activity for women, have been held in prison for protecting their lives.