Police fire pepper spray after Women's Day protest in Istanbul

A person reacts in front of riot police during a rally to mark International Women's Day, in Istanbul, Turkey March 8, 2023. REUTERS/Dilara Senkaya

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish riot police fired pepper spray to disperse a group of protesters pushing back against a line of police on Wednesday as a rally to mark International Women's Day was winding down in central Istanbul.

Women whistled and chanted "We do not keep quiet, we are not scared, we do not bow down", as they pushed riot police shields, triggering the tussles with police, while the rest of the crowd of around 2,000 dispersed.