• Director(s):

    BILLET (Claire)

  • Producer(s):

    ARTE GEIE, HIKARI FILMS

  • Territories:

    Worldwide.

  • Production year:

    2015

  • Language(s):

    German, French

  • Rights:

    TV, NON-THEATRICAL, INTERNET

On 22 March 2015, the day of the Persian New Year celebrations, a 27-year-old Afghan woman was lynched in the centre of Kabul, the Afghan capital.

Her crime was to have publicly denounced the corruption of a mullah who was selling Islamic charms. To get rid of her, he falsely accused her of having burnt a Koran, before handing her over to the crowd, who stoned and beat her to death. Portraits of Afghan women who have chosen to react since Farkhunda’s death include that of Shakila Ibrahimkhel, a journalist who fights for the freedom to inform; Elnaz Arabzada, a human rights activist, who helps women to become aware of their rights and to defend themselves; and Benafsha Amiri, who protects women who are – still – victims of violence. On a daily basis, these Afghan women are trying to change mentalities, so that the death of Farkhunda - who is now referred to as Shahida, the martyr - is not reproduced. But above all, so that she did not die in vain.