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The film investigates the status of women in Islam through interviews with
men and women from Mali, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. Though often
caricatured by Western media as a homogenous group of veiled subordinates, this
documentary shows the diversity of Muslim women, informed by both religion and
culture. In Mali, women speak of the comfort afforded by their religion, while
at the same time recognizing that Islam is abused by men to thwart women’s
development. In Morocco, while some put their faith and conviction in Islam and
its proscriptions, others believe that only education and struggle can help
women. This sentiment, that “Women’s rights are never given, they are always
fought for,” is echoed by women from Algeria and Tunisia. This moving and
stirring exploration of women’s rights and restrictions in Northern Africa and
the Arabic peninsula helps us understand these women’s lives, struggles and
dreams.
A Women Make Movies film by Louise Carré. 1996. 56 minutes.
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