E. ZEYNEP AKGÜL

Ankara- Nevin Yıldırım, Fikriye Özbek, Nimet Akgün... These names are some of the women who killed their husbands to defend themselves or their children. But they are in prison now because their right to self-defense was ignored. In this territory, women receive jail sentences when they use their right to self-defense against their abusive husbands. The right of self-defense of women is, unfortunately, ignored. The right of self-defense is the right for people to use reasonable or defensive force, for the purpose of defending one's own life or the lives of others, including the use of deadly force. The legal struggle or the psychological support of the people facing violence is also self-defense.

The theatre play named “My Name” is the story of a woman who uses her self-defense to protect her daughter. The play staged by Theater İmge actually tells the story of four women from generations of a family. The main character of the play is Meryem, who is sexually abused by a man when she is a child and then forced into marriage with that man by her family. The theatre play tells about violence, sexual abuse, and harassment against women. It actually tells the story of all women.

The theatre play is written Ayşenur Demir, who is also a theatre player. We spoke to Ayşenur Demir about the theatre play.

·         You tell the story of Meryem in the “My Name” theatre play. Could you tell us the story of Meryem?

Meryem is a story of self-defense. The theatre play tells the stories of four women from a family. “Meryem” was adapted as a theatre play to be performed in the streets but we changed its name to “My Name” and turned it into a one-act theatre play in time.

“Self-defense is a right”

·         “My Name” makes a tremendous impact on theater audiences. Why the play attracts intensive attention?

The theatre play tells the struggle for freedom, against violence. It is a precious theatre play because it tells social pressure on women when Turkey withdrew from the Istanbul Convention. It tells in a naive but shocking way that self-defense is a right against abusive husbands, lovers, or all abusive people. We think women see their lives in the play.

“Self-defense should be discussed emotionally and mentally”

·         “My Name” tells the story of Meryem, who is sexually abused by a man when she is a child and then forced into marriage with that man by her family. She uses her self-defense when she sees her husband sexually abuses her daughter. What would you like to tell us about self-defense?

For us, self-defense is not just a form of defense against people physically attacking us. It is also an emotional act. It is an uprising for women against social pressure. Self-defense is not just about physical attacks; it should be also discussed emotionally and mentally.

·         In your theater works, you focus on violence against women, sexual abuse, and hate crimes against trans people.

As members of the Theater İmge, we see our theater company taking responsibility for all these problems.

·         Do you have new projects?

We have worked on new projects. We have worked on Radio drama. We have performed in the online theatre plays due to the Covid-19 pandemic because the theatres are closed for 15 months in Turkey.