Iowa City self-defense class puts focus on techniques for Muslim women

IOWA CITY — In her two years living in the United States, Rania Omer has never felt anything but safe. But she said she hears an increasing number of stories of Muslim women in other parts of the country being harassed — or worse.

'I think the people here, in Iowa City, are so friendly, we have had no problems,' said Omer, a Sudanese immigrant who came to Iowa in 2015 as part of the United States government's Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, a lottery-type program approved by Congress in 1990 to increase the number of immigrants coming to America.

'We have really loved being here, we were happy when we were selected in the lottery,' Omer said. 'But I'm hearing so many things from other places, Muslim women aren't safe.'

That's why she took her daughters, Hala, 13, and Haya, 11, to a self-defense class offered this week by Hamza Omar at Strike Martial Arts in Iowa City.

Omar's class is designed to teach all women self-defense tactics and empower them to feel safe, he said. He teaches standard self-defense moves, but adds a few designed to help hijab-wearing Muslim women break free.

'I have three daughters, as well as a son. Omar said. 'I am a dad, so I have this protective need to teach my family to be safe, and I want to teach all women to be safe.'

Omar, also Muslim, said his classes are for everyone, but he spoke of an increased risk for Muslim women — and other minority women — in recent months.

'Postelection, a lot of the girls in the community and in the school district, really across the country, have had issues being harassed,' he said. 'Frequently, women who wear the headscarf are targets for these people. I want to show women there are ways of getting away and protecting yourself from people who want to cause you harm.'

There were 16 participants in Omar's class on Tuesday, ranging in age from elementary school to early 40s. Some women were there for themselves, some with their daughters. Others were there to support friends.

'If something were to happen to one of my friends — a Muslim friend or not — I'd want to be able to help them get free,' said Destanie Gibson, 15, of Iowa City. 'I sometimes feel threatened when I'm walking home from school so I keep my keys in my hand, but it's good to know some better ways of fighting someone off.'

Natalie Bonthuis, 21, of Iowa City, is getting ready to leave for medical school in Orlando, Fla. She's never felt threatened in her hometown, she said, 'but this is something new, a bigger city. I just want to be safe.'

May Nugud is a 39-year-old Muslim woman from Coralville. Her children have been taking kickboxing and taekwondo classes from Omar for four years. This week was the first time she got on the mat with them.

'This is self-defense, it's something everyone should know,' she said. 'It just makes you feel safer.'

That's what Omar was hoping to convey.

'This is specifically for the community, for women to feel empowered whether they wear a hijab or not,' Omar said. 'Some people need that confidence and that security with the way things are now.'

Tuesday's class was presented by the Iowa Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and was offered for free. Omar said he offers self-defense classes regularly and plans to incorporate all the same lessons taught Tuesday into future classes.