On 6 March 2005, individuals gathered peacefully in Istanbul to celebrate Women’s Day early. However, the police used a "disproportionate" amount of force, including truncheons and pepper spray, to disperse about 500 people, who had congregated in Istanbul. The police interfered on the basis that the demonstrations had not been authorized. Sixty-three individuals were detained and at least three people were hospitalized. Amnesty International expressed great concerned, and one European Parliamentarian stated that "such suppression was not helpful to Turkey's application for EU membership." (cited in: EU frowns at Turkey for police riot against women, Lucia Kubosova, euobserver.com, 8 March 2005).
Compiled from: EU frowns at Turkey for police riot against women, Lucia Kubosova, euobserver.com, 8 March 2005; Turkey: Police brutality against peaceful demonstrations, News release, Amnesty International, 7 March 2005.