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Exclusive Film Clips

Tuesday, 06. 23. 2009 – by the Moral Courage Project

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Soraya’s aunt, Zahra, knows the dangers that Soraya faces if she goes against her husband’s wishes.

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Soraya is trapped in an abusive marriage where she has no rights and no voice.

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Zahra thinks that a job will free Soraya to escape her terrifying and oppressive situation.

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Ali and the Mullah prove that their world is a man’s world.

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After a speedy trial Soraya is sentenced to death by stoning. With no one in the village to turn to the women are forced to accept their fate.

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As Soraya is betrayed by her own father, Zahra is carried away—outranked but far from defeated.

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21 responses to “Exclusive Film Clips”

Bill Gronberg says:
June 29th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Even after viewing these "exclusive film clips", I am sure I do not really understand how good life is, for most people, in the rural mountain west of the USA. Yet, I know that some people here are far from the ideal. Best success in the wide distribution of this film.

Janice Reply:
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:08 pm
@Bill Gronberg, Hope that you get to the theater and see the entire film. A wide distribution definitely depends on its early box office success.
Barbara Goehl says:
June 30th, 2009 at 9:49 am
The reality of the film brakes my heart. I cannot comprehend the lack of human love and compassion. Any society that does not understand the value of women in their community is doomed to perpetual misery. They creat their own hell.When women are given their rightful position in this world, that is when peace will prevail. God bless this film and I pray it is seen by all.

Janice Reply:
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:08 pm
@Barbara Goehl, I am so glad the film speaks to you. Thank you so much for your kind words. You can spread the word about the film to others by sending an ecard to your contacts. The ecard is found on our home page.
Nohayia Javed says:
June 30th, 2009 at 9:53 am
Soraya will recieve her reward in paradise and those who falsely accused her will spend eternity in hell. These short clips have made me anxious to watch the movie and I pray for the multitude of women who have suffered unjustly at the hands of men who call themselves Muslim and use Islam for their own personal gain without understanding the religion.

It is people like these men, with no knowledge of the purposes of Islamic law, that portray Muslims and Islam as an evil religion that gives no rights to women when in fact – Islam was the FIRST religion to give women their rights – rights to their own property, rights to divorce and marry who they choose, rights to conduct business and be learned in their religion and to teach others.

I pray for Soraya and for the women who have suffered such a horrid fate unjustly. . . The time has come, as we see in Iran today, for the true Muslims to stand up against tyranny, men who use Islam to justify their own wrong deeds and corrupt actions, and to free the people to live as Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and God decreed. What these people have done is NOT Islam and has NO basis in the deen.

As for her husband and father and the men who accused her and tried her, they may have gotten away with stoning Soraya in this world, but the world is watching (as this movie represents) and more importantly, God is watching.

Zoya Reply:
July 1st, 2009 at 12:42 am
@Nohayia Javed, wife beating IS a legitimate part of Islam, not a perversion of it:

Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel others and because they spend out of their property; the good women are therefore obedient, guarding the unseen as Allah has guarded; and (as to) those on whose part you fear desertion, admonish them, and leave them alone in the sleeping-places and beat them; then if they obey you, do not seek a way against them; surely Allah is High, Great. [Qur'an, al-Nisa’ 4:34]

All it takes is a husband's suspicion. The reason why barbarity persists in Muslim society is that people are whitewashing the source of it. It does NOT help the cause of finally joining the civilized world.

UmmeJahan Reply:
July 1st, 2009 at 2:11 am
@Zoya,
Any man who testifies that he believes in the Quran can be convinced to treat all women with great respect,compassion and fairness, with proof derived directly from Quranic verses and with examples of the character and actions of Prophet Mohammed (pbuh). What does one do with a man who just says that he believes but has never tried to read or reflect upon the meanings of Quranic verses and has no idea of how the Prophet(s)treated women? In USA, the law is sometimes deliberately twisted to save criminals and punish victims.In India, the practice of SATI(Widow burning)is forbidden by law and considering people UN-TOUCHABLE is un-constitutional. Yet, these crimes are committed regularly. In the end, whatever religion or constitution we claim we follow, the ultimate guide is our own conscience. That is why the Quran constantly reminds its readers that God is watching and He will hold one accountable for every action.

Janice Reply:
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:09 pm
@Nohayia Javed, Have you had a chance to see the film yet?
Marshall Pollock says:
June 30th, 2009 at 9:58 am
More than a movie! A powerful insight into a religion captured by zealots and rooted in the stone age. How can we stand by and watch? God help us all when the revenge of the cradle makes Islam the dominant religion and Sharia the law of the land. What ever happened to the Golden Age of Arab Culture that enlightened us all? Who are these animals who have so distorted God's message. They have forsaken Allah. Damn them all.
hassan says:
June 30th, 2009 at 11:45 am
For your soul Neda, this film was made.
W says:
June 30th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
God bless Irshad for her efforts. Please God, grant her continued strength in the face of such evil. The peaceful, good people of the world must do what they can to shine the light of justice and freedom on these dark corners of the earth.
P. K. Seshan says:
July 1st, 2009 at 12:21 am
Lady Irshad Manji !

Please do not confuse the aftermath of elections in Iran with the horror of injustice in Islam. Democracy is never to be practiced on the street and public places. Public outcry and indiscipline can throw out a government which can then be replaced by another unknown. And the "revolution" will repeat itself.

Men and women are created equally. The difference in gender is a beautiful divine design for the joy of mankind.

Subjugation of wife by husband, per se, is grievous sin. There can be no divine sanction of such behavior. If a book promotes such behavior it, most certainly, is not from God. Such books must be quietly abandoned. No religion can arise out of such books. Whatever people do with such books is treason against God. The punishment for treason is painful death.

You have been doing great work that pleases God immensely.
Shivashankar says:
July 1st, 2009 at 1:33 am
Isam is a tribal, brutal religion that has caused the cold bloooded murder of millions of men , woman and chridren. It also caused the rape of so may hundreds of thosands of innocent women. It was behind the salve trade in all of medival history. It is such a travesty of truth that it is called a religion of peace by so many ignorant politicians and leftist and or politically corret intellectalas. Just watch how many innocent peole get killed everyday in the name of Islam !Beware of the spread of the menace of the Sharia Law!
Richard says:
July 2nd, 2009 at 2:52 am
All that comes to mind is that the men portrayed in this true story and the men who press the laws that govern them, must be very fearful of women. In reality they know their own weaknesses and so band together in this misjudgment…gaining a semblance of strength from a solidarity that has no real foundation save that of a belief fostered and nourished by ignorance. They unknowingly work for Satan and are not even aware that they please him by submitting to this evil…..and so each time destroy the very goodness they claim to espouse. Brings to mind when Jesus stepped up and stopped the stoning of a woman but in this portrayal it was a woman who stepped forward to stop it. The women of Islam are the future and the clergy know it and fear it.
Elka Ruth Enola says:
July 3rd, 2009 at 9:47 am
There is no god in my world. No afterlife. This world is all we have. I watched the film clips through streaming tears, and when it ended, just sat there sobbing. If ever there was a 'must see' film, this is it.
The Moral Courage Project » Blog Archive » The message: reform says:
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:07 pm
[...] she looked up, and all she could see was feet, dust, and angry men calling for the stoning to begin (click here for exclusive film clips). A while later when attending the L.A. premier of the film she had an ironically similar [...]
Roxy says:
July 8th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
This is like Halaka in Judaism, where both offenders, man and woman would be stoned to death, because Jews believe in equal rights. Many Christians have decided to ignore the old testament and I think this one reason why — they did not like Halaka or Sharia punishments. In any event, thank you for making it real. The only others in the West who realize the harshness are those domestic violence advocates, who work for the government or for the Roman Catholic Church. In Southern California, it is the Roman Catholic Church that often takes in Muslim battered women and children, regardless of ethnicity. These old Abrahamic religions are like this and change to modern times and advocacy for women is slow. However, this is changing due to modern biblical scholars who are disgusted with many Christian sects' attitude towards women in the bible; the bible is also being revised to eliminate bias and the constant reference to women as "prostitutes."
Other issues in the bible are also being revised and re-thought. We now realize Jesus was a Jewish man, of dark complexion, he did not have blond hair and blue eyes; he who was expected to be married at age 14, after a Bar Mitvah; and he was expected to have children (a Judaic commandment), therefore Mary Magdalene was NOT a prostitute, but very likely his Chief Disciple and his wife. We realize based upon human ego, that Disciple Peter, was envious of that relationship and chose to slander the memory of Mary Magdalene. Jesus Christ's wife, mother, and children, fled after his execution at the hands of the Roman Govenor, this is what the movie the Da Vinci Code was based upon. Whether they escaped to Europe, North Africa, or east towards Tibet, along the Silk Road, remains unknown.
The issue of revising old holy books for established religions is antagonizing, particularly to those who enjoy manipulating its content to appease their egos.

GraceBWY Reply:
July 9th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
The Devil comes to kill, steal and destroy

And as you watch this film you can see him clearly doing that through Islam's willing participants.

I am Christian. I was involved in a spontaneous protest by the Iranian community in Seattle in response to the election demonstrations in Iran and noticed how brave and outspoken and passionate Iranian women were — very vocal full of life — it really kills me to know that this is the spirit that gets crushed each and everyday in the name of Islam. The women proudly spoke out for women’s rights the only true liberty for Iran. The protest was in support of the brave demonstrators in Iran and it was really incredible – about 1,000 people showed up on several corners with signs … some of what we did — a group of us would cross the street when the light turned green with huge Flags of the U.S. and Iran. One of the chants was Hey hey, ho ho, mullahs got to go and Amidid ,bye, bye, also a group of young Iranian men would drive around the block and each time they came to the corners they honked and gave us demonstrators a boost of enthusiasm so we shouted and cheered and they got everyone in traffic to honk! I have to tell you it was a fun day! I am so glad that this movie is out…I was very disappointed in Osama’s response to the demonstrations in Iran. To me and to Iranians there he basically said it was none of our business. This film clearly shows it is everyone’s business!!!!

Some thoughts of my Faith if you care to read:

@Roxy, Jesus said himself "I am the Son of God whoever believes in me shall have everlasting life". He was either a liar or He is what He claims to be. Jesus is the word of God who lived among us or He is not. He is asking "What do you believe I AM? And you choose to believe Him or not…that is what having Faith is.

God is pure perfect Love. We as humans are not.

The devil comes to kill, steal and destroy

I believe God created the Heavens and the earth as a means to quickly and efficiently defeat evil (Satan) for all eternity. Even though to us it seems a long (too long) a time to do it and our sufferings may seem to make no sense and may make us question why God would allow this to happen. I believe God is Good and Loves us perfectly and is moving us toward the ultimate end of ALL evil … God has infinite wisdom beyond our understanding. He transcends all time all dimensions as the Creator of them and this universe. He has the perspective from eternity… He has told us this universe will end. And according to current scientific theories about the end of our universe it will be pulled apart by what has been discovered and called dark energy then it will have no meaning without life in it (conscience life to witness it) and all evil — Satan with his demons and fallen human sprits will be left without escape (Hell) bound to its decaying fabric. Forever restrained and tormented against it. Then God will speak the universe and them out of existence.

And God will wipe every tear from our eyes.
Rabbi Jennifer Krause says:
July 21st, 2009 at 9:58 am
"Hear my story first. You will know why you should listen." – Zahra

"Shema", the Hebrew word for "listen" or "hear," is one of the most powerful words in Jewish life and inherited tradition. It is the first word of a prayer uttered in a variety of settings throughout every single day–when dawn breaks, when the sun comes to rest at dusk, when we put our heads on the pillow at night. "Shema" is so integral, so powerful, that an ancient sage expanded its defintion. "Listen," he said, "means to understand. In any language you can."

Zahra's courageous insistence that her voice bears hearing is only half of the story, not only of this film, but in this world. In every moment, in every generation, we have choices: will we wait to hear the stories of the unthinkable atrocities consciously and willfully executed by people who count on the fact that no one is listening if, and only if, the victims or eyewitnesses themselves live AND dare to tell the tale? Or will we be the ones to usher in an age in which together we bring the world a little closer to wholeness and repair by listening carefully for the silences; by hearing those whose voices are conspicuously absent BEFORE even one more invaluable, irreplaceable, soul–man, woman, and child walking the earth–has to convince anyone that they have a story worth hearing?

These are choices that transcend geography, background, culture, and religion. These are choices that we all can understand. In any language.
Folke Holtz says:
August 25th, 2009 at 3:50 am
I wish to se the whole film. It must be a stop for this unhuman action in Islams name. God is merciful and compassioned, and this must be the leading star in all our interpretion in any Holy books.

Which God are we to follow? The mercyful One full of love and care.

Janice Reply:
August 26th, 2009 at 10:41 am
@Folke Holtz, I hope you will let us know what you think once you are able to view the film.
It will be released on DVD this year hopefully.