STONING OF SORAYA
In this movie, an innocent woman (Soraya) is seen to be oppressed and harassed and also maltreated because of her husband falsely accusing her of adultery intentionally. Husband to Soraya is Ali, and they have two daughters and two sons. Sons are what Ali wants so much, and he had turned them against Soraya. He is an abusive husband and tries to get the Muslim man (Mullah) to persuade Soraya to permit him a divorce in order for him to marry a 14-year-old girl. Marriage to this girl is based on the condition that Ali saves the father who has been sentenced for an unknown crime. Then Mullah tries to convince Soraya to be his temporary wife while providing monetary and protection to Soraya and her two daughters. Plan does not work out as predicted by Mullah since Soraya refuses this offer. Following this incident, Hashem wife dies and Mullah and Ali talk to Zahra to convince Soraya to take care of the widower (Hashem).
Zahra argues that Soraya can only do that if she is paid.The beginning of problems for Soraya commenced when Soraya started working for the widower. A perfect opportunity for Ali to start spreading rumors that Soraya was unfaithful in order for her to be stoned to death hence enabling Ali to marry again. Apart from this, it also made Ali be exempted from paying for his two daughter’s maintenance if Soraya was to be stoned to death. At the time of mourning a woman comes into the house to take property and Soraya stops her saying the widower (Hashem) will use the property. The same woman is found gossiping with other women about Soraya at the water standpipe that she has an intimate affair with the widower (Hashem). Her cousin Zahra intervenes and tells these women plainly on their faces that they like talking about other people, and they should stop that.
The two men Mullah and Ali start to spread a rumor about Soraya’s infidelity that Zahra overhears while walking in town. She suspects there is a plot against Soraya and warns her that people want to hurt her. She advises that Soraya should quit the job, but She refuses and advanced her strong points that she needs the money to take care of her two daughters. Mullah and Ali convince the widower (Hashem) using threats and by manipulating him into giving supporting evidence to build their case against Soraya. Plan by Ali and Mullah is revealed when Ali starts to beat up and drag Soraya on the streets accusing her of infidelity. Her cousin Zahra comes to Soraya’s rescue as she flees her to her home asking Ali and Mullah and also the widower to talk privately about the matter.
The widower (Hashem) lies that he had engaged in adultery with Soraya and the trial continue to be discussed and argued by men while Soraya was kept enclosed with other women awaiting the outcome of the trial. Not long before Soraya was convicted and this was done only after her father’s approval. She (Soraya) tells Zahra that she is not scared of death but the stones and the plan. Her cousin tried to flee her away but realizes that there is no way out as armed men were strategically placed in all avenues. She gave up on planning for the escape of Soraya and now tries to plead for Soraya’s life in exchange for hers. Conviction continues to stand as it was, and preparations for the stoning of Soraya commence. All Men and boys started to collect stones in sacks in preparation for the day. Also,they marked the area where Soraya will be stoned, and Mullah prayed to Allah to give a sign if what they were doing was inappropriate. She (Soraya) was dressed in black and lead to where she is to be stoned. When the verdict has be read the black clothes are taken off and she remains with the white robe and her hair left loose,both of her hands were tied to the sides and she was put in a hole that was dug a grave and she was covered with soil.
Woman bravery is shown in this movie. This was seen when Zahra slapped Mullah on the cheek. This was one of the rare cases performed only by Zahra because this was a woman who cared less about the consequences that her actions would bring. The bravery of a woman is also seen when Soraya is told that she will be stoned to death, in between sobs, she says she is not scared of death but is scared of the stones and the plan. Also, she tells her aunt Zahra that Ali has finally got what he wanted by getting rid of her. It is seen that she also had the courage to give her last goodbye to her daughters and tell them not to watch when she is stoned. In fact, She gives one of her girls a necklace and the other her ring and hugs them lovingly for the last time. Prior to her stoning, Soraya is brave enough to say her last words to the crowd asking them how could they do this?Also, She tells them she is Soraya and she has stayed in their homes as their daughter (she looks at the father) as your mother (she looks at her two sons) and as your wife (she looks at Ali).
To add to the bravery shown by women, also this is clearly visible when Zahra invites a journalist to her house though she knew it was prohibited but took the risks anywhere. After she is overheard talking to a journalist, she continue to display this bravery by keeping the real tape and gives it to the journalist on his way out after they destroyed the one that he had. Confidently without fear, she shouts after handing the right tape to the journalist that because of the God that he loves great, that the whole world will know of the injustice that has happened. Further, it strengthens the argument that Zahra was never worried about the consequences of her acts as she was doing the right thing.
Inequalities are also seen in this movie. Women and men are not treated equally. We see that Men are seen in the public sphere while women are seen in the domestic sphere. We witness this when men are allowed when the trial is continued and argued while awaiting conviction. While Women sit with Soraya confined in a room. They do not have a say in the proceedings of the trial and are not allowed to give any evidence or voice out their opinion.
This is also seen in the way boys and girls are socialized and raised. Both Soraya’s daughters were given to her and the father Ali did not contribute or have an influence in their upbringing. Both girls were seen being later raised by Zahra when the journalist came in, and Zahra led them into their room while she narrated the story to the journalist. On the other hand, boys were the ones who Ali wanted so much, and he provided for them a flashy life totally opposite from what their sisters had. The Girls are not seen to be equally emotionally attached to their fathers and boys are discouraged from being emotionally attached to their mothers. For instance, the boy child is seen to be displaying that they are told to act like a man. Lack of the emotional attachment of the girl child is seen when Soraya’s father disowns her daughter and does not even want anything to do with her not even to listen to her. Soraya’s father is involved in the proceedings of the trial and his final word that Soraya is to be stoned to death stand.
Gender-based violence- is depicted as seen as Soraya’s body was bruised from the beatings from the husband and her sons, prior the plan to persuade her to grant her husband a divorce. Violence is also seen when Ali slaps Soraya in front of her children during a meal as he claims that he shamed the man of God (Mullah). He tells their sons that Soraya is that woman who does not want to see her sons and husband happy; moreover, he promises to leave taking them along with him. Seeing this, Soraya runs away from home with her two daughters to seek refuge at her Zahra's house which is her cousin. In addition, this is also witnessed as Soraya is dragged and beaten by her husband on the streets when falsely accusing her of adultery. Her sons are also seen to be emotionally abusive to their own mother as they pull away from her and never give her the support when she is physically abused by their father and the older son refusing the younger one to talk to his mother after she has been convicted as they were taken there to see her.
If stoning as a punishment was applied in the United States, the crime that should fit this kind of punishment is murdering. Murderers of fellow human being should face this punishment because it will act as warning to murders who contemplates on doing it. If the murderers know that they will be stoned to death if found, they will shy away from their acts. If their actions are robbing and murdering, their actions will only reduce to robbing since the consequences of murdering will be far much painful.
Since murdering are increasingly seen and heard day after day, these murders getting caught and punishing they severely will not do justice to the bereaved. The feelings they feel are of vengeance as the person who committed such murder still lives on. To do justice to these bereaved persons, a more cruel method of punishment should be imposed on such murderer. Thus, the best one is stoning so as to feel a lot of pain.
Since stoning to death puts one to experience a lot of pain, the murderers, and serial killers fears. For instance, Ted Bundy who was a serial killer feared death and, as a result, tried to persuade the executors that he was not guilty. He blamed drugs for his actions and pretended that he was a good citizen for that matter of fact. Now, introducing stoning to death to such criminals will instill fear of committing such crimes. This will result in zero percent murders in the United States.
Justice demands that whoever kills with a gun should also be killed with a gun. But, in this case, a gun will kill faster. So it is better for a murderer to be killed by stoning so as to die a slow painful death. Stoning would be a better solution to this since it will ensure full justice are delivered to the criminal, the bereaved and even to the death victim.