JINHA

ISTANBUL - Women in Istanbul held a noise demo to protest the war started by the AKP yesterday.

The group Women's Initiative for Peace (BİKG) opened a stand in Khalkedon Square in Istanbul's Kadıköy district. After handing out flyers, they held a march. The women marched with whistles, pots and pans and tambourines. "We don't want a war government! Peace can't be sacrificed to the temporary government's desire for power!" read one sign. Women wore "peace" ribbons. The women held a noise demo, then read a statement.

During state attacks on cities in Northern Kurdistan (in Turkey), the Turkish state shut down Internet, roads and communication.

"We want to know what is happening in Şemdinli and Silvan," said the women. "We don't want things to happen to cities, neighborhoods and people that are hidden from us." The women emphasized that military posts mean rape and harassment for women. They said that they know what war means and that it was necessary to raise their voices for peace.

After the statement, the women held a sit-in at a neighborhood opera house.

(ödk-en/fk/cm/ad)