Beneath The Veil
An anonymous woman, covered from head to toe in a blue burka, is dragged across a football pitch and shot in front of 30,000 spectators. This haunting image of Taliban justice was filmed secretly in Channel 4's award-winning documentary Beneath the Veil broadcast in June 2001. The woman was Zarmina, 35-year-old mother of seven. In a new Dispatches film, Lifting the Veil, Carla Garapedian went to Afghanistan to discover her story and see whether women's lives have improved since the fall of the Taliban.
After a secret trial, Zarmina was jailed with her six-month-old twins. They were confined to one room for three years. She confessed that her husband, Alozai, had discovered she had committed adultery saying: 'He said, "Tomorrow I will go to the Taliban and they will stone you to death." That night I was afraid. I hit him over the head with a mallet.'
Money could have saved Zarmina's life. The final Supreme Court ruling stated that her life would have been spared if she paid 10,000 dirhams ($8,000 dollars) to her seven children for the loss of their father. But she had no money. Under Taliban law, Zarmina was judged by her own children. Children often participated in Taliban justice and witnessed executions. Alozai's brother brought the couple's children to court. Zarmina's mother says: 'They were always beating the children to say their mother had killed.'
Very unfortunate. Today I discovered on news that Theresa May, Brit PM has described Islam "As poisonous faith of perverted Islam". World must realise that current Islamic practice is incompatible with modern society globally. Muslims must stop claiming their Islam ways in host lands or else, stay in their own cocoons. It must be said explicitly to Muslims.
I'm an afghan and I know that living in America is a best thing ever... I'm glad that I'm in a country were I don't feel a big threat. Many of you may think differently about afghans or Islam in general but let me tell you that my religion is not close to being bad. Islam is a religion with peace. We want peace that's all. But for some uneducated people we are "terriost" or a big threat smh. It breaks my heart how my religion is hated upon some people. All that matters to me is that I know my religion is a beautiful peace wanting religion. No in the Quran it doesn't say "Kill people and destroy mankind" it says not to harm one because that means you are destroying all of mankind. This is a nice video and my heart goes out to them. But don't say anything about Islam if you are not fully educated.
Has "documentary" been withdrawn from this and other sites because people are beginning to see it as propaganda?
Documentary doesn't exist.....!!!!
This documentary is interesting also by the things that aren't said. The argument of religion versus atheism is a non argument when it comes to man's ability to become a murderer. It is easily done as man is easily led. Ipen says there is no way he would attend the execution. I don't believe that for a moment. Given remarkable sequences of events and where you are placed in those events, you are capable of unspeakable acts. This is because we are animals and not enlightened, not wise and certainly not compassionate. Greed and power drives us all to one extent or another and the need to belong will have your mind working to place you in a position where you firstly need to survive. Once you have done this, you will want to succeed and advance and there you go. Your alternative is death and I hardly think that many will opt for that. Don't kid yourself that you are not capable of doing it. Citizens from most countries in the world have carried out atrocities in times of war. The difference is that for these people there is no such thing as atrocities, just necessities of survival. When we stop seeing others as our brothers and sisters, we become ripe fruit for the picking, I don't care who you are or who you think you are. God just doesn't come into it. Be true to yourself and have your own mind, care for those you don't know nor understand and try to resist being part of the pack. If there is a better way, I've yet to see it.
Like everyone else I was appalled and heartsick! It's all so very tragic on so many levels. I also have a question: How did they get 30,000 average Afghan citizens to go to the Internationally constructed arena to witness an execution? Perhaps they were tricked one time but this happened more than once. Unless I CONDONED it there is NO WAY you could convince me to ATTEND an execution, regardless what other sporting event may happen! I make no real judgment, I simply ponder the question.
Warped Sick S*it. The whole lot of them need to come into awareness and humanitarian way of life, already.
I feel physically sick after watching this. The Taliban are some warped motherfu**ers.
Whether we like it or not, the Taliban is part of the West's legacy. The U.S. government and the CIA encouraged extremist Muslim groups to come to Afgahnistan, funded the Taliban, trained the Taliban to take over and continue to work with them and fund the to this day. Many public U.S. officials including Hillary Clinton and Ron Paul have admitted that we are to blame for the direction of that country. This seems to be the usual outcome when the U.S. intervenes in a country whether it is to abuse it to gain a military, political or corporate advantage or to loot it for it's precious oil or other natural Products.
This political restructuring of the Middle East, is part of a policy of militaristic imperialism that the American and British ruling circles have been engaged in for several centuries. What is happening now with the Taliban was put in place knowingly or unknowingly by the U.S and CIA.
I admire Carla Garapedian's courage for going in to the hyena den and risking her life to make this moving documentary. Throughout, her voice was measured - never shrill or breaking. Remarkable. None of Afghanistan's ancient glory exists today. The landscape is as dry and unforgiving as the mindset of its cruel and paranoid Taliban. Another example of how religious zealotry can pollute the mind and bring out the worst in its adherents.
The definition of evil is ignorance and relgion ( all religion ).
using religion as a way to justify murder is absolutely heinous. These Talibans are purely terrorists, not Muslims at all.
Nobody seems to be doing anything productive to help our fellow humans. all we do is potray there primitiveness and how horrible they are. They are monsterous(the taliban, the ones that kill the innocent) but we need to stop focusing on the hatred and make a move towards a positive action towards change in Afghanistan. Getting everyone to hate them will only make people more un-willing so it seems. Has anyone done anything productive? even after all the news on tv and documentaries about violence in afganistan. instead we should do something and fill people with hope and ideas of a positive change for the better, to help give these poor people their right to live, every person should have that right
These Talibans are hiding behind a religion to get away with mass murder. they claim they are muslims but in no way or form are they. they promote what we are against. in no book or teachings of islam do they mention us muslims having to have ridiculous and outrageous laws like these. people need to be more willing to really look behind the headlines and do their research before making claims and accusations.
But that is not what is most important in this documentary. Im so appreciative of everything i have im even appreciative that im writing this comment right now. I dont think other countries should ignore this. i think countries should get involved. if we leave to fend for themselves they have no hope. the people are slowly dying out and its sickining to watch.
they are not going to change any time soon, they have a primitive way of life that has been rooted in their mind that doesnt make them change over-night.
I am just a 16 year old muslim girl, i dont claim to know everything this is just my view
killing innocents is not justice or bringing peace or unity to the country.. liked the way its shown..but made me very much sad to know all this..
How do we judge this talibans are bad. what about this so called western civilization responsible for killing millions in the name of christian belief. In U.S.A they killed more than 14 million indians in the past 500 years and still they are the victims living in the reservations with unemployment more than 85% with suicide rate at the rate 4 to 7 every week. What's happening to the native Australians every day? Americans atrocity in Afghanistan and Iraq. Stop this nonsense trying to portray Talibans are the evils. Before coming to any judgement please watch documentary Trudell and The canary effect, this will open your eyes.
I am having such a hard time understanding how a country gains from keeping its people primitive? Keeping people poor. It just blows my mind that in this day & age there are people living like this. Unreal. Somewhere, Someone is gaining from this chaos....somehow.
Just to think, we have cute little clothes & jewellery for our treasured pets and to know there are women & children on the streets is heart breaking.
This documentary is important for everyone to view. Of course it is hard to see--but the Taliban are awful--awful isn't the correct adjective- Ruthless extremely evil men who want to control everyone. Too many people have their heads in fairytale land of never-never land ethos and are playing games instead of learning about current events not watching the news as to what is really happening. The abuses of many people in our lives seem to be nonexistent for many who are trying to keep with their own lives as hard as it may seem--- but many have nothing to compare to the atrocities that have been committed to many people in third world countries. Bad things happen everywhere to alot of people--it happens possibly because they are ill -informed or just don't realize what's occurring under our noses. Our rights slowly erode because of the few extremely rich that control the masses. This documentary is an eye opening realistic example of what people shouldn't have to experience. People have to watch the news, read and relearn history so we will be able to stop horrible catastrophe from starting. Wake up everyone before it is too late!!
My god, reading the comments here, I am astonished at the illiteracy and stupidity of most people. Thanks to people like THIS we have these problems in the world. Next time please educate yourself at least on the subject then make comments.
This Doc watching it really really pissed me off. I'm glad I'm not from a culture like this ohhh they would have killed me no doubt, I could not live in these circumstances, i probably would be a bitter woman a Man HATER to the fullest. I'm reallly bad with holding grudges for abuse like how these women experienced. And the little kids eating moldy bread that lady had seven kids and she can't work! In a america you get ripped on so hard for having alot of children and a single mother and do not work. These people encourage that just so the mothers and her children starve. I think men like that power s*** to keep you down and controlled. Women don't do it! Have you ever been with a man that doesn't want you to work and stay at home then you have alot of kids now he takes good care of you right. But you have to do what he says and if he leaves you what do you have NOTHING, unless you marry some wealthy man or something how many wealthy men do you know or have married. From what i see most people with money sign pre-nups any way. Don't buy into that crap you better have your own income on the side just in case or you and you're kids will struggle. This is the Worst case of struggling for a women and their children I have ever seen. This doc i won't view again f*** it thats the way I feel after watching this shit.
This documentary isn't about HATE, it's about making the world aware of the atrocities being brought apon the Afgan ppls, and the horrors they have to endure. Women forced to feed moldy bread to their starving children, not allowed to work, not allowed basic human rights. Hospitals destroyed, homes torn and blown apart....and all I read here is how this brave woman is promoting hate, most of you are missing the point....she is asking for ppl to CARE!!!!!!
I watched the documentary , and I was abhorred by the injustice and the tyranny being portrayed. I don't think the reporter meant to say this is what Islam does to people , this injust , cruel , women abuser religion. After all there are women "ROWA" those who were feminists and fought for basic rights. Islam doesn't prevent women from working , teaching , or medical care. It's the extremists . The Taliban is no different than the KKK , they both killed for control and because the other party is a different ethnic group.
What is the purpose of the Taliban? After watching this documentary, that is the question I ask myself. Women aren't the only ones being oppressed, it is men and children also. I wonder if we weren't there at the moment how better would it be? They put forth rules that are required by everyday people to follow ,but yet they do not follow the same set of rules that, the everyday person must. Why is this?
I understand that many countries have a set of rules regarding adultery,fornication,murder and etc...So if you live in these few countries that stone,hang,shoot for the punishment of certain crimes. Why then is it always a women or young girl punished more often then the men who carried out similar crimes or acted out with a women to commit adultery,fornication.
Women are dealt with more harshly then men, because in some of these countries,women are less then livestock. If you are to punish for crimes then the punishment should be carried out for all who commits crimes.
It seems that groups like the Taliban,Al-Qaeda are not fighting for their peoples right, but for total control. This documentary shows just that, if they were there for the needs of people. They wouldn't murder husbands,fathers, because by murdering husbands and fathers they are destroying the entire family. After they have been killed, their wives can not sustain a family without an income, so women and children starve. Under the rule of the Taliban women can not work. So we are back at the beginning of my comment What is the purpose of the Taliban?
I cannot believe how this discussion went. So much name calling and whose country is better. What we seem was a woman murdered for committing adultery. My question is what happens to a man if he is accused of adultery? Several people made the comment that she should be killed because she knew the law. I have heard that a man can accuse his wife of adultery and buy off some of his friends to say they slept with her too and the one one punished is the woman. In that part of the world if a woman is raped, she is punished not the man how raped her. Yes women's right have been slow to come to other countries but we do have them. It took a lot of brave women standing up for their rights. I think we should bring all our soldiers home and let these people kill themselves off. We need to reduce world population.
Wow, started reading the comments and got about halfway through when I realized this was a documentary meant to promote hate. Simple enough.
I only have a few comments to comment on, as I got annoyed about half way through.
The woman in the video killed her husband to keep herself from being stoned to death for adultery. So, the question automatically comes up, who's right, who's wrong, what your religious views are and where in the world you live.
All are the wrong ways to look at something. Murder is murder no matter what you look at it. Killing someone for cheating is a part of their VERY OLD culture. A people who have lived with the same laws for thousands of years don't change overnight, through force or because another culture disagrees with them. They change on their own and through their own progress. Period.
As to the Native American who stated "I will never forget the day the Mayflower sailed" You weren't alive then.
As to the woman who said "Women need more power" I call bull. You need to learn to use the power you have now to make this world EQUAL!
I am a female Native American who lives in Europe with a husband who comes from a much different culture than I do. We have a 50/50 relationship. We each do our part to make our lives work and live in the world. Women now a days are trying to take over the world, men did this 5,000 years ago and one gender ruling anything DOESN'T WORK. There are two genders on this planet, not one.
Making documentaries based in hatred only keeps us further from what should be our goal. Equality, human rights and understanding.
Stop blaming religion, region or gender and learn we are all human, no matter what way you look at it.