MURFREESBORO — Inspired
by the Arab Spring, women are beginning to speak out about an ongoing legacy of
oppression.
“Honor Diaries,” a documentary that expresses these women’s
anguish, will be screened at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 23, in the State Farm
Lecture Hall of MTSU’s Business and Aerospace Building.
The hourlong film focuses on so-called “honor violence,”
which targets mostly women who have violated cultural norms, therefore
“dishonoring” their families. Some rape victims have been murdered because they
are considered to have brought dishonor on their families.
“Honor Diaries” features nine courageous women’s rights
advocates who are engaged in a dialogue about gender inequality, according to
the movie’s website, www.honordiaries.com.
Honor violence is most widely reported in the Middle East
and south Asia, and it also has been reported in Canada, France, Germany, Great
Britain, Italy, India, Sweden and the United States.
Victims have been shot, stoned, burned, buried alive,
strangled, smothered or stabbed by their own husbands, fathers or brothers in
the name of restoring “honor.” Other forms of honor violence documented in the
film include forced marriage and female genital mutilation.
“This film is a wonderful format to encourage and inspire
some discussion regarding this very important global issue,” said Dr. David
Schmidt, vice provost for international affairs. “It has already created a
discussion nationally, and I am pleased we have the opportunity to screen this
film at MTSU.”
According to the United Nations, there are 5,000 honor
killings reported around the world every year.
A report by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe states that honor violence is based on the belief that women are the
property of male relatives. Men are rarely penalized, and they receive reduced
sentences in the rare situations in which law enforcement intervenes.
“Honor Diaries” was an official selection of the Chicago
International Film Festival in 2013 and winner of Best Documentary honors in the
Interfaith Awards category at the 2013 St. Louis International Film Festival.
This event, which is free and open to the public, is
presented by the MTSU Office of International Affairs. A searchable campus map
with parking details is available at http://tinyurl.com/MTSUParkingMap13-14.
For more information on the event, contact Schmidt at 615-898-2116
or david.schmidt@mtsu.edu.
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