JINHA

WAN- Hanife Güzel and Zeriye Yobaş went to the rally of March 8, International Women's Day in Van with their local clothes in yellow, red and green colors. They were stopped from entering the rally area by state forces and taken into custody. Two women stated that state forces took them into custody just because the colors of their clothes. "We will exist with our colors, local clothes and culture." said the women.

March 8, International Women's Day was celebrated in Van on March 5. The rally was held in Musa Anter Park. Hanife Güzel (34) and Zeriye Yobaş (36) went to rally area by wearing their local clothes with the colors of yellow, red and green. State forces took two women into custody at the check point. Hanife and Zeriye who are tradespeople in Public Market, were released six hours after being arrested.

"We had stitch our clothes for March 8, International Women's Day. We wanted to wear our local clothes on women's day. We were taken into custody due to the colors of our clothes. We couldn't celebrate women's day. We were excited to celebrate our day. However, they didn't allow us to celebrate our day. We, as women and mothers, want to celebrate our day freely. I hope that we rebuild a free future." said Halife.

Zeriye Yobaş stated that the state can't even stand their colors and she said, "Yellow, red and green are our colors. Thence, we wanted to wear the clothes with these colors. We went to join rally with our local clothes. However, state forces took us into custody due to the colors of our clothes. They restricted our freedom on women's day once more. We will continue to exist with our colors, local clothes and culture."

(db-hk/dc/mg/gd)