Using rubber bullets and tear gas, Turkish police have dispersed a crowd of several thousand marchers who gathered outside Istanbul's Taksim Square on International Women's Day, local media reported, with videos from the scene.

The "Feminist Night March" in Istanbul was one of the many demonstrations held on Friday across Turkey, demanding equality and an end to the "historic oppression" of women.

Police has started intervention with rubber bullets & tear gas against 17th Feminist Night March on Istanbul's Istiklal Avenue on International Women's Day.via/@medyanhaberpic.twitter.com/bmM6Riku28 — dokuz8NEWS (@dokuz8_EN) March 8, 2019

Turkish authorities have been cracking down on mass gatherings since the 2016 attempted coup, although the state of emergency was lifted in July 2018.

Demonstrators responded to the crackdown by chanting anti-police slogans, and telling riot officers to find another profession, local media reported.

One of the chants was "police, open the way, the streets belong to us!"

Barred from Taksim Square, the demonstrators marched on Istiklal Avenue, the main thoroughfare of Istanbul's Beyogly District.

"World would shake if women were free" slogan fills Istanbul's Istiklal Avenue during Feminist Night March as part of International Women's Day Celebration in Turkey. #IWD#WomensDay#dokuz8/@denizozturk08pic.twitter.com/i8GSng7sYL — dokuz8NEWS (@dokuz8_EN) March 8, 2019

Earlier in the day, female students from Istanbul University held a march as well.

Female students at Istanbul University held a manifestation in front of the university's Beyazıt Gate due to #InternationalWomensDay. #dokuz8/@ayseegulkaragozpic.twitter.com/5SJzY6F3yQ — dokuz8NEWS (@dokuz8_EN) March 8, 2019

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