In the name of tradition

( A documentary film on female genital mutilation or cutting in Iran)

DIRECTOR: Kameel Ahmady

COUNTRY: UK/Iran E-MAIL: [email protected]

WEBSITE: www.kameelahmady.com

(Long version)

FILM DETAILS: According to director’s recent research “in the name of tradition” up to date 30% girls are still cut or go through FGM/C in some parts of Iran. This film will explore this phenomenon by directly talking to locals, parents, clergymen, Doctors and people who do this practice for a living. The film is the first of its kind to be made on this issue in Iran and will follow a young female student life’s over two weeks who recently found out from her mother that she also has been cut. She decides to write her university thesis on this issue; she also prints out leaflets and information papers to hand out in streets and homes where she speaks to people to raise awareness among locals. In a gathering between the number of girls and boys some of the boys will support this practice and believe this will control women’s sexual appetite and it’s good for society. They also believe in wearing the hajab and strongly support on dress code for girls and role Islam in society. In two other interviews you will hear from two young women, one of them work in NHT (family planning) who have been cut and in favour of this practice and does not believe it will decrease women’s sexual drive in any way also says its prophet Mohammed’s tradition and must be done. The other young woman who is a head teacher and hasn’t still been circumcised wants to circumcise herself soon, she believes cosmetically this will give her vagina a better look. You would also hear advice from local doctors calling the public to stop this tradition. the film will end when a top clergyman from a mosque encourages mothers and fathers to do this to their newborn girls and reassure the public it’s not only doesn’t harm them and will not have a negative effect in their sexual drive but it will increase the pleasure of sex between men and women.

Title: in the name of tradition (Long version)

Duration: Hours: Minutes: Seconds: 34 min

Date completed: 11/11/2007 (A new version in Frasi was edited on 2015)

Preview format: DVD/ MP4 Screening format: 35 mm 8mm (16/9)

Original language of film: Kurdish (Sorani)

ختنه زنان – ختنه زنان در ایران- ناقص سازی الت جنسی زنان

Also play here: www.kameelahmady.com (go to media page/films)