Egyptian Women Embrace Martial Arts
Mon, September 21, 2009 
Egyptian women fight against grope attacksThe celebrations around the end of Ramadan — called Eid — began yesterday around the world.
In Egypt, the government was more prepared than in past years to protect women on the streets. Bikya Masr blog brings us the recollections of women attacked in October 2006 in frenzied assaults on Cairo’s streets.
A holiday that should be brimming with beautiful memories is actually painful for scores of Egyptian women.
In October 2006, during the Eid holiday that follows the Holy Month of Ramadan, mobs of young men attacked female bystanders, ripping at and groping them near a local cinema in downtown Cairo. Nobody believed the women’s stories until evidence appeared on blogs that included video and pictures of the event.
The Ministry of Interior denied that it had even occurred, stating on the record that “if something had happened there would have been police reports filed.”
“It was like a war and I had no idea what was going on until they started to grab my butt, breasts and every inch of my body,” said Dina as she walked along Taalat Harb street in downtown Cairo, the location of the incident on October 24, 2006.
Egyptian women are learning martial arts as a way of defending themselves from groping on the streetsExpressing concerns about Egyptian women yesterday, Al Jazeera English produced a story focused on these past events in Egypt and young Egyptian women’s pursuit of martial arts, to protect themselves.
Egyptian Women Fight Harassment 9-20-09
Reader Comments (2)
Learning martial arts for defense is not only for Egyptian women. Even those from different countries, of different race may learn it for defense. That helps in times of trouble.
Michael D. Massie
http://www.dp-db.com/small-dojo-big-profits
You guys get one self-promotional comment off my content It's the only one we will approve, so don't waste your time. The second one and future ones won't be released. Thanks.