In Southern India, family disputes are settled by Jamaats—all male bodies which apply Islamic Sharia law to cases without allowing women to be present, even to defend themselves. Recognizing this fundamental inequity, a group of women in 2004 established a women’s Jamaat, which soon became a network of 12,000 members spread over 12 districts. Despite enormous resistance, they have been able to settle more than 8,000 cases to date, ranging from divorce to wife beating to brutal murders and more. Award-winning filmmaker Deepa Dhanraj follows several cases, shining a light on how the women’s Jamaat has acquired power through both communal education and the leaders’ persistent, tenacious and compassionate investigation of the crimes. In astonishing scenes we watch the Jamaat meetings, where women often shout over each other about the most difficult facets of their personal lives. Above all, the women’s Jamaat exists to hold their male counterparts and local police to account, and to reform a profoundly corrupt system which allows men to take refuge in the most extreme interpretation of the Qur’an to justify violence towards women.

Women Make Movies

Muslim women -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- India -- Tamil Nadu, Muslim women -- India -- Tamil Nadu -- Social conditions, Abused women -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- India -- Tamil Nadu, Marriage (Islamic law) -- India -- Tamil Nadu, Domestic relations (Islamic law) -- India -- Tamil Nadu, Family violence -- India -- Tamil Nadu, Victims of family violence -- Protection -- India -- Tamil Nadu, Women -- India -- Tamil Nadu -- Social conditions -- 21st century, Women -- Crimes against -- India -- Tamil Nadu, Women's rights -- India -- Tamil Nadu, Human rights -- India -- Tamil Nadu, Sex discrimination in criminal justice administration -- India -- Tamil Nadu

Dhanraj, Deepa (director), Dhanraj, Deepa (producer), Merchant, Jabeen (editor), Contractor, Navroze (videographer), Reddy, Konarak (composer), Sama--Resource Centre for Women and Health (New Delhi, India) (producer), Nihon Hōsō Kyōkai (producer), Women make movies (distributor), Independent Television Service (producer), Yleisradio Oy (producer)

01:22:52 (HH:MM:SS)

English

adult/continuing education, higher education, college

Name	Women Make Movies
Role	distributor
Telephone	212-925-0606
Address	462 Broadway, STE 500, New York, NY 10013
Email	[email protected]

2011-01-01

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