Turkish police have fired tear gas and rubber bullets at thousands of women protesting against male violence in Istanbul, writes BBC.

The demonstrators gathered in the capital to mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Some held signs saying “We are not silent, not afraid” and “We will fight till we get what we want”, while other banners urged the government to resign.

The protesters demanded the country return to a landmark international treaty, signed in the same city, that was designed to protect women.

The landmark Istanbul Convention came into force in 2014 and paved the way for a Europe-wide legal framework to tackle, prevent and prosecute violence against women.

Some officials from Turkey’s Islam-oriented ruling party called for a review of the agreement, arguing it was inconsistent with Turkey’s conservative values.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pulled Turkey out of the convention with a surprise overnight decree in March, triggering condemnation from women’s rights groups and Western countries.

A court appeal to prevent the move was rejected and Turkey’s withdrawal was formalised in July.