Sunday, March 23, 2008
No Swinging Allowed!: Images from the Life of Raheleh Zamani, who did not wish to Die
http://www.change4equality.com/english/spip.php?article241Sunday 23 March 2008
Change for Equality: "She did not want to die. She wanted to live for her children; for her daughter. She would say: ’I know that when my daughter turns 15, she too will be forced into marriage. She will have to endure beatings and humiliation, and infidelity. She will have to endure what I have endured.’ She did not want to die, so that perhaps she could save her daughter of a similar destiny."
The play "No Jumping Rope!" brought to stage images of the short life of Raheleh Zamani,
recounting her marriage at age 15 and her execution at age 27.
At age 24, after enduring years of violence, humiliation and constant infidelity by her husband, and after repeated failed attempts at obtaining a divorce, Raheleh Zamani murdered her husband—a murder which left those who had the opportunity to meet Raheleh in a state of disbelief. The play, "No Jumping Rope!" was a combination of theatre, performed by Azadeh Faramarziha, and narrations performed by Maryam Hosseinkhah and Jelve Javaheri. The Play was staged on Saturday March 12, 2008, as part of events marking the International Women’s Day at the amphitheatre of the School of Economics at Allameh Tabatabi’ie University. The play was based on a project developed by Azadeh Faramarziha and Nasim Khosravi and other members of the Campaign’s Arts Committee. Nasim Khosravi, the Director of the Play, spoke a few words about the execution of Raheleh after the performance. "Despite the tireless efforts of Zohreh Arzani, Khadijeh Moghaddam, Mahbobeh Hosseinzadeh, Nahid Keshavarz, Aida Saadat, and Marjan Sekhavati, women’s rights activists and members of the Campaign, Raheleh was executed," Khosravi explained.
At the time of Raheleh’s execution, Maryam Hosseinkhah and Jelve Javaheri, were in Evin’s public ward, on charges related to their activities in support of the Campaign. Mahbobeh Hosseinkhah and Nahid Keshavarz too met Raheleh after they were arrested collecting signatures in support of the Campaign’s petition and during their 13 day detention in Evin’s public ward.
Take a look at pictures from this performance on Images for Equality, the photo site of the Campaign.
Translated by: Sussan Tahmasebi
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