Sara Kriselle A. Al Mohammed
Cultural Anthropology
May 23, 2016
Reflection Paper
The Stoning of Soraya M.
Up to this day, there are few countries who still perform executions like stoning or beheading; in Iran, Mauritania, in some parts of Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen where in these types of execution are still legal and performed on women by the cause of adultery. The movie "The Stoning of Soraya M.," based on a true story in Iran, where in women had their lack of rights in their country and how Soraya was abused and betrayed by her husband. Soraya was merely a victim. Her husband, Ali, wanted her executed so that he could get rid of her faster, while the widower lied in order to protect his son from being an orphan. Everything that has happened was a tragic and should be an eye-opener to all viewers and to inform them that women should have their rights as well.
The Muslims looks at men as a more important people to the community, unlike women who are unheard or even abused. The way they dress; women are supposed to be covered from head to toe. There was a scene where in Mullah asked Soraya to get a divorce, but because she was worried about her children, Mullah suggested that she could be a temporary wife. And he said that it was ok and it is part of their religion, but according to Zahra it was a sin so she started cursing him. In their religion, age is not a big deal deal to them and an example would be Ali wanting to marry a 14-year old child. Their religion somehow shows of the idea of women being disciplined and women should not contradict with their husband or any other men, while the male population gets away with anything.
Just by watching this movie, by opening my eyes, I do not think I could ever view women's rights and justice just the same. In the movie you could see the way Ali would talk to his sons and share to them as to how it is a man's world, and he would not even look at his daughters. There were many more scenes where they showed negative relationship between the men and the women. Another example would be the conversation of the mayor and Soraya's aunt and how the mayor told her to just give or do whatever the men in town ask for. As stated or shown in the film, women or young children are being sold to older men so that parents would not have to feed their children.
In their community, when a man cheats, the wife should show proof, but when a woman cheats, she still has to prove her own innocence. But shown in the film, a lot of people knew about Ali's affair with other women, yet no one told on him or abused him. Although it was fare of the mayor to as witnesses from Ali when he accused Soraya of adultery. Part of their law for divorce is for women to pay her husband if she want to have a divorce. In the film, Soraya started working for the widower to put food on the table for her daughters and at the same time earn enough money so that she could have a divorce with Ali. In this film, even when law is involved, men has the higher ups.
This is an extremely powerful film because it speaks the truth and people around the world should be facing this. And that is what the movie is all about, to speak the truth of what is happening in some countries. This is a story that really empowers the victim which is seldom done, and everyone has been victimized in some part of their lives. This movie is really about injustice that still goes in.