Description |
1 online resource (streaming video file) |
Summary |
In Southern India, family disputes are settled by Jamaats""all male bodies which apply Islamic Sharia law to cases without allowing women to be present, even to defend themselves. Recognizing this fundamental inequity, a group of women in 2004 established a women's Jamaat, which soon became a network of 12,000 members spread over 12 districts. Despite enormous resistance, they have been able to settle more than 8,000 cases to date, ranging from divorce to wife beating to brutal murders and more. Award-winning filmmaker Deepa Dhanraj (SOMETHING LIKE A WAR) follows several cases, shining a light on how the women's Jamaat has acquired power through both communal education and the leaders' persistent, tenacious and compassionate investigation of the crimes. In astonishing scenes we watch the Jamaat meetings, where women often shout over each other about the most difficult facets of their personal lives. Above all, the women's Jamaat exists to hold their male counterparts and local police to account, and to reform a profoundly corrupt system which allows men to take refuge in the most extreme interpretation of the Qur'an to justify violence towards women. "An intimate and inspiring portrayal of the collective action of Muslim sisterhood. This is a particularly important film for our times in that it tells a story that runs counter to the dominant stereotypes about Muslim women."--Stephen Hughes, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London |
Analysis |
Asian and Middle Eastern Studies |
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Gender Studies |
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Race and Class Studies |
Notes |
Title from title frames |
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In Process Record |
Credits |
Camera, Navroze Contractor ; editing, Jabeen Merchant ; music, Konarak Reddy |
Event |
Originally produced by Women Make Movies in 2011 |
Notes |
In English |
Subject |
Muslim women -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- India -- Tamil Nadu
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Muslim women -- India -- Tamil Nadu -- Social conditions
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Abused women -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- India -- Tamil Nadu
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Marriage (Islamic law) -- India -- Tamil Nadu
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Domestic relations (Islamic law) -- India -- Tamil Nadu
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Family violence -- India -- Tamil Nadu
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Victims of family violence -- Protection -- India -- Tamil Nadu
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Women -- India -- Tamil Nadu -- Social conditions -- 21st century
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Women -- Crimes against -- India -- Tamil Nadu
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Women's rights -- India -- Tamil Nadu
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Human rights -- India -- Tamil Nadu
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Sex discrimination in criminal justice administration -- India -- Tamil Nadu
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Abused women -- Legal status, laws, etc.
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Domestic relations (Islamic law)
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Family violence.
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Human rights.
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Marriage (Islamic law)
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Muslim women -- Legal status, laws, etc.
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Muslim women -- Social conditions.
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Sex discrimination in criminal justice administration.
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Victims of family violence -- Protection.
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Women -- Crimes against.
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Women -- Social conditions.
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Women's rights.
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India -- Tamil Nadu.
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Genre/Form |
Documentary films.
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Feature films.
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Nonfiction films.
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Feature films.
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Documentary films.
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Nonfiction films.
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Documentaires.
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Films autres que de fiction.
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Form |
Streaming video
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Author |
Dhanraj, Deepa, film producer, film director.
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Sama--Resource Centre for Women and Health (New Delhi, India), production company.
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Nihon Hōsō Kyōkai, production company.
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Independent Television Service, production company.
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Yleisradio Oy, production company.
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