He said vs She Said

     My day had been uneventful. Nothing unusual had happened unless the fact that Ngor picked up on first ring counts.  My friend, an RA (Resident Assistant) in my hall who has this habit of inviting me for programs like 20mins to commencement invited me for a “program”.  Anybody who knows me knows I hate being taken unawares, especially for stuff like this. For reason unknown to me…oh, I remember, she came to harass me in my room! I went down to see what “program” she had. Turns out it was the showing of a movie. Recently, with a re-vamped space which has a big screen and cushy sofas, our lounge beats any cinema I can think of. 

     The setting was in Islamic-looking village, with Middle-Eastern looking characters.  The lady’s husband wanted a new wife. Even though he could marry two wives under Islamic laws, he could not afford it financially. The lady refused to grant him a divorce. Her daughters meant nothing to him. He was only concerned about turning her sons against her. Also, the 14year old girl he wanted to marry was his priority. It came at a price though. He had to find a way to reverse the death penalty charge on the little girl’s father who was under his care in the prison he worked in. Also, he had to find a way to get rid of her, his wife.

     Opportunity came when a villager’s wife died, leaving behind a young son.  It was decided that the lady would henceforth help them with household chores. He spurred the rumor mill, saying she, the lady, his wife, was dating the new village widow. He convinced and threatened the village widower to testify against her. Together with the village “Mullah” they connived and got a verdict against her. When the lady was called, she was asked to prove her innocence. She was told that when a man accuses his wife of adultery, she has to prove her innocence while when a woman accuses her husband of adultery, she has to prove his guilt. It was a no win situation for her. She was sentenced to death.

     Death by stoning.

     Her father was the first to cast a stone. Next was her husband. Followed were her sons.  Or something along that line. In any case, they were family.

     A day after her stoning, the little girl’s father was executed.  The lady’s husband could not marry the little girl anymore; he had not been able to uphold his part of the bargain. The village widower in anger, spat out that he had threatened and asked the man to what effect the lady’s stoning was now.

Was there anything done in way of punishment for the lying widower?

Was there anything done to punish the evil husband?

Was there anything done to punish the conniving Mulllah?

The answer to all these is  NO.

It is a man’s world. *sad smile*

She was Soraya Manutchehri, an Iranian woman, wrongly accused of adultery, by a man she bore 4 children for; 2 sons and 2 daughters.

YOU, should see the movie……….Happy Women’s Day.