Medine Mamedoğlu/JINHA

HATAY - Campus Witches have opened self-defense workshops in many cities of Turkey, this year, they are going to put workshops into practice in Hatay. “Lives will win against masculine system,” said the witches and they summarize briefly their purpose by saying, “Self-defense is not only to protect themselves against male violence, but also to build a life completely.”

Campus witches, who organize in many universities, also say, “Campus Witches was founded for solidarity against all kinds of harassment, rape and violence against women and the problems women face at home, on campus, in the classroom and on the street just because being female university students.”

Since its foundation, Campus Witches have been opening self-defense workshops in many cities. They have begun to work for opening workshops in Hatay. Campus witches, who are organizing in Mustafa Kemal University, call all Hatay’s women to participate in workshops against male dominant system.

One member of the Campus Witches, Gülsüm Tonaydın gave information about their works. She said the workshop is currently under preparation will begin on October 20. Gülsüm said, “Self-defense is a defense technique called Wen-Do. Each day, male-dominant system reproduces itself and women should create new organizing and resisting techniques against this system. Self-defense is not only to protect themselves against male violence, but also to build a life completely. As women, we don’t want to take “revenge” on men with self-defense. All we want is take the control over our bodies and life.

‘We give this training in order to prevent more women to be killed’

Gülsüm reported that 30 women had been applied to join the workshop and they would begin the workshop with 30 women but the number of women would be increase. Gülsüm said, “Many peope ask “Why” when they hear we give this training. The increasing violence against women in the strees and at homes shows us how self-defense is important for us. We give this training with solidarity of women in order to prevent more women to be killed and we will extend our training to everywhere.”

Gülsüm explained why self-defense is important for women and said, “Self-defense allows us to be aware our power and to have a voice in our life. This power will raise our confidence. The practice of self-defense will “save lives”.”

Gülsüm urged all women to participate in workshop that will be opened in Hatay.

(fk/gd)