Numerous women were arrested in their homes in Istanbul late Wednesday evening. The detainees are accused of insulting the Turkish president during the 19th Feminist Night March on Women's Day March 8. 

A court in Istanbul has ordered the release of 17 feminists with judicial review measure on Thursday. Twelve of those involved had been arrested at their homes on Wednesday evening. Five other women went to the Çağlayan Palace of Justice themselves on Thursday because they were not found at the time of the raids.

One of the women, who is now required to report regularly to Turkish police, is filmmaker Zelal Buldan, who is also the daughter of HDP co-chairwoman Pervin Buldan. Another person affected is seventeen-year-old Berfin P. However, she only has to report to the authorities once a month. The court also imposed a ban on all women leaving the country. It is not yet clear if and when a trial will take place.

The night march, organized by the Feminist Collective on the evening of March 8 since 2003, is repeatedly overrun by state repression. It traditionally takes place in the Beyoğlu district near Taksim Square on the main shopping street Istiklal Caddesi. This year, there were numerous arrests in the metropolis for the women's rally already last Saturday. An Istanbul court even sentenced two trans women to house arrest. They, as well as six LGBTI+ activists and a journalist, were also ordered to report to the police regularly and banned from leaving the country. They are accused of resisting state authority.

Maximum sentence for presidential insult: Four years and eight months

The maximum penalty for presidential insult in Turkey is four years and eight months. Under Erdoğan's government, there are now thousands of investigations every year. The AKP leader is considered the fastest insulted president in the world. Between 2016 and 2019 alone, 9,276 people were sentenced to prison or fined in Turkey because Erdoğan felt offended by their remarks.