Wednesday, August 12, 2009

this is the world we live in

Just watched a documentary on the web tv of SVT (Swedish state television) called Inte som min syster (Not like my sister) made by Leyla Assaf-Tengroth. A very touching and emotional story about honor killings and forced marriages. The oldest daughter Rim was forced to marry when she was 13 and her sister Dalida decided to not let that become her destiny.

You see the father, husbands, and other relatives talk very openly about the traditions of men and women. Rim's husband talk about his right for freedom, no one is allowed to tell him what to do, no one can make decisions over his head. Very hypocratical when the clip before showed his wife Rim talking about her life. She is not allowed to leave the building and just sits inside and she seeks comfort in food. When eating melon seeds she can keep her mind occupied.

It terifies me how Rim and Dalida's father describe and justifies the aciton of a honor killing. He compares it to cutting of a sick finger. By doing that you however will get punished. But with the lowest sentence of 5-6 months in jail.

In the end, Dalida has found someone by herself that she wishes to marry. Very problematic however, since he is christian but Dalida's father approves and they get married. Although it is not that easy since the uncles do not approve and threatens to kill her if she shows up in their village in Syria. They do now live in Libanon where they moved when her father needed a job. This was probably the reason since Libanon is more modern and the children have got a more modern view on things.

It is disturbing how these men can sit and describe for the camera how the men of course should have their freedom when the women is not allowed to go outside. That they are allowed to punish their women if they are not good and do not obey.

It is difficult to understand with the world I live in, that there are girls and women out there living in a totally different world. It is the same world but but the realities could not be further apart.

(The documentary can be watched online at SVT play until September 9th.)

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