AISHA AND THE PLIGHT OF WOMEN IN AFGHANISTAN // Jodi Bieber

Summary: Aisha was just eighteen years old when the Taliban pounded on the door just before midnight demanding that she be punished for running away from her husband’s house. Aisha had suffered constant abuse from her husband and in-laws and ran away to seek refuge at a neighbours. The neighbour called the police and Aisha was sent to jail. She received amnesty and her father returned her to her husband to finally face the wrath of the Taliban commander of the village.

The Taliban court barbarically sentenced Aisha to have her nose and ears cut off to set an example for other women. Her brother in law held her down whilst her husband pulled out a knife. First he sliced off her ears and then her nose. She was left to bleed to death.

Mozhdah Jamalzadah, an Afghan refugee who grew up in Canada, recently returned home to launch an Oprah - styled talk show, which has become widely popular. She has been able to subtly introduce questions on women’s rights without provoking the ire of religious conservatives. She deals with issues of divorce and domestic abuse and more than the fame or the financial rewards she feels it is a way for her to give back and educate her viewers.

Robina Muqimyar Jalalai, one of Afghanistans first two female Olympic athletes spent her childhood locked behind the walls of her family compound. Now she is running for parliament and wants a sports ministry to be created, which she hopes to lead.

These are only three stories from three different women INSTITUTE artist Jodi Bieber photographed.

Aisha is now in the United States to undergo Reconstructive Surgery. Will Robina, Mozdah and all the other women Bieber photographed fulfill their dreams?...there is an element of uncertainty and it is not always in the hands of these courageous women.

Links

Entire set in the archive
Jodi Bieber's Bio
Jodi Bieber's Features
Jodi Bieber in the News
INSTITUTE Features

If you are interested in this feature or to commission Johannesburg based Jodi please do not hesitate to contact Matt Shonfeld - matt@instituteartistmanagement.com Tel: +44 1225-462-968

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