Turkey is pushing towards membership into the European Union (EU), but not with out obstacles. Their stance on human rights is not up to EU criteria, according to Europa online. On March 6, demonstrations held in Istanbul, Turkey in honor of International Women’s Day, became a scene of pepper gas and clubs. Three hundred people communed in front of the mayor’s office to protest in favor of equal rights for women.

When half the protesters refused to follow police orders to leave, the police charged the crowd armed with billy clubs and dispersing tear gas, according to BBC News.

“We condemn all violence, as demonstrations must be peaceful,” the EU told BBC News.

On Oct. 3, Turkey will o begin talks on EU membership in the midst of democratic and economic reforms. The government currently delayed the reform period by two-months, to assess human and civil rights reform.

The delay will allow revisions to the new penal code that constructs a better balance between individual rights and protection of the state, according to the Financial Times.

In 1999, Turkey became an official EU candidate country, but is unqualified until major adjustments to their economic and human rights are created, according to BBC News. Since then, the country eradicated the death penalty and implemented tougher measures against torture in December 2004.

“EU membership will benefit the Middle East and the Far East, in terms of international relations,” said Fatma Dogan, a Turkish employee who works for Sodexho-Marriot dining services.

Yet, the display of violence on International Women’s Day received many raised eyebrows from the EU.

“We were shocked by images of the police beating women and young people demonstrating in Istanbul,” said three EU representatives to BBC News.

“On the eve of a visit by the EU during which the rights of women will be an important issue, we are concerned to see such disproportionate force used,” said the EU in a statement.

“The problem is not about gender, it’s a political issue,” said Dogan. “The women were Kurdish women, which is just a small group of women who represent all women in Turkey.”

Dogan, who has worked at Guilford College for seven years, has been in the U.S. since she was 22, and visits Turkey every summer.

In an interview with The Guilfordian, she said that small minority groups who speak out, like the Kurdish women, falsely represent Turkey as a whole.

“The Kurdish want to form their own country. The media exaggerates everything that goes on,” said Dogan.

On March 9, the European Parliament called on Turkey to report on the incident to “respect human rights,” according to the Turkish Daily News.

Two days later, the European Parliament announced that it would draft an extensive report on the incident and condemned any violent actions or force during the event of demonstrations, according to the Turkish Daily News.

“Europeans are afraid – they are afraid of Muslims,” said Dogan when asked about Turkey’s questionable status as a candidate country for EU membership and the issues of reform.

“Turkey has done very bold and significant reforms to improve human rights, and it is understandable that there is a breathing phase,” said Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn to BBC News.

Rehn said to Deutsche Welle News, “It’s a matter of credibility of the reform process in Turkey,” he said. “But nevertheless I find it positive that the Turkish government said today it would take action.”

Cemil Cicek, Turkish Justice Minister, had an opposite view. “When police in EU countries confront anti-globalization activists, surely they do not greet them with flowers,” he told Deutsche Welle News.

Recently Turkey has started opening many doors to human rights reforms including: women’s rights and Kurdish culture, language and education.

“The reforms will continue. There is no end to the improvements. It’s not just passing (the reforms) in parliament, implementation is important,” Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said to BBC News.

“No matter what, we all have to live together,” said Dogan.