Turks halt women’s anti-violence rally

ISTANBUL — Turkish police broke up a rally calling for an end to violence against women and for Turkey’s return to a treaty aimed at protecting them, detaining dozens of people Friday.

The demonstrators tried to march along Istanbul’s main pedestrian street, Istiklal, to mark the Nov. 25 International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, defying an order by authorities banning the rally on security and public order grounds.

Police blocked off protesters from entering streets leading to Istiklal, surrounded groups of protesters and then apprehended them. An Associated Press journalist saw three buses full of detained protesters being taken to a nearby police station.

The Istanbul Governor’s office announced Friday that it was banning live music, exhibitions and food stands being set up on Istiklal.

Earlier this year, parliament ratified a bill increasing prison terms for crimes where the victim is a woman and made stalking a crime punishable by prison.

Speaking at an event marking the international day, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to “constantly raise the bar” in preventing violence against women. Still, human-rights groups say measures in place fail to adequately protect women or hold perpetrators to account.

At least 349 women have been killed so far this year in Turkey, according to the advocacy group We Will Stop Femicide.