Women Battered on March 8 File Criminal Complaint

Click to read the article in Turkish

Nine women who were subjected to verbal and physical violence by the owner and personnel a venue called Beyrut Nostalji in Kartal, İstanbul where they went to watch a concert on March 8 International Women’s Day, have issued a statement for the press at Human Rights Association (İHD) İstanbul branch building.

Speaking concerning the incident prior to the statement, İHD Secretary Leman Yurtsever said that they filed a criminal complaint over charges of “willful injury”, “insult” and “threat”.

Conveying that the women received report of battery, Yurtsever said that they applied to the prosecutor’s office for the footage to be examined.

“Verbal harassment turned to physical assault”

One of those who were subjected to violence Ezgi Topbaş said that they went to Beyrut Nostalji for a concert after the Feminist Night March, and told what happened afterwards:

“Our friends who were told that they couldn’t enter with their femina flags folded down the flags and entered the venue. Then the pressure and psychological violence started by operating manager, waiters and owner and the owner’s woman friend turned into verbal harassment.

“The quarrels that began with our friends defending themselves turned to physical assault despite all their good intentions with one of our friends being pushed down the stairs. The personnel walked up to them with knives and battered them with punches, kicks and slaps”.

"It was among the women"

For their defense, the venue stated that the incident occurred “among the women”, it was “not caused by men” and that they are against all sorts of violence, no matter who causes it be it man or a woman.

Concerning the venue’s statement, Toptaş said that venue’s statement is based on lies and urged the venue to “prove with camera footage that no violence took place”. (TP/TK)