Nişmiye Güler/JINHA

WAN – In the city of Van, women are learning to defend themselves with self-defense at the Rojin Women’s Life Center. Taekwondo instructor Aryen Duman explained that the course aims to help women defend themselves against an increase in violence against women.

In the city of Van, in the east of Turkey, the municipal government continues providing services aiming to integrate women into social life through the projects of the Rojin Women’s Life Center. A taekwondo course for women, recently opened at Rojin, has been overwhelmed with demand.

“Why shouldn’t women defend themselves?” asked Aryen Duman, the instructor for the course. “Women have the strength and the ability; they just don’t know how to use it. So we thought it was a good idea to open a taekwondo course.

“Recently, violence against women has increased. And defense is a natural and legitimate right,” said Aryen.

Esma Akçakaya, 32, said that women needed to be able to defend themselves, whether from their husbands or from the violence in the streets.

“I think women are stronger than men. Because women’s labor was always lost, it’s become invisible. But one woman’s strength is worth two men’s,” said Esma. “I think I’ll be successful in this sport. And I’m ready to defend myself; they shouldn’t shut women up at home anymore.”

Hazal Yılmaz said that she joined the course to be able to respond to the challenges of walking alone in the city at night, and to be able to defend herself against patriarchal power of all forms.

“When you defend yourself, you realize your own strength,” said Hazal. “We didn’t come to this course to commit violence, but just to be able to defend ourselves.”

She called on all women to learn self-defense.

(dc/fk/cm)