Filiz Zeyrek

 

ADANA - Campus Witches, who are organizing against sexual and physical violence against women, call on women to their workshop to defend themselves.

 

Campus Witches, who are organizing against sexual and physical violence against women, have opened workshop in their cities in order to improve their self-defense. Lastly, the Campus Witches have opened a workshop at Çukurova University in Adana province despite all barriers and they have called on all women to join their self-defense workshop. Campus Witches member Buket Karaçaylı emphasizes that women should be strong against male violence that spreads in every sphere of life and she adds, “Male-dominant system reproduces itself every day and as women, we should form new organizational and resistance means against this. Self-defense is not only protecting you from male violence but also building your life from head to foot. As women, we see the increasing violence against women and the negative policies towards women in Turkey. Five women are killed almost every day. We have opened workshops for women to take self-defense courses against these policies.”

 

‘Despite all barriers…’

 

Stating that the self-defense courses are free for women, Buket said, “We faced many barriers of university, they didn’t allow us to distribute leaflets. Despite everything we gather and begin to take the courses.” Buket said 15 women took the self-defense courses and she added, “The number of women is very good because we are new. We are working on organizing more for the second step. Our teachers are now men but we are thinking to give it ourselves in the future.”

 

‘We will spread’

 

Recalling that the workshop gives lesson one day a week, Buket said, “Due to the intensity of the lessons, we are currently taking it once a week. No matter what happens, we call on all women to join our self-defense workshop.”

 

Another Campus Witches member Sinem Çelik said, “Walking in the streets at nights and in the day is also our right. For this reason we decided to take self-defense courses. We learn many things and we advise this to all women. They should come and join our lessons. We give this training to prevent more women to be killed with women’s solidarity and we will spread this in everywhere.”