Normally we should take for granted that people will mix religion and culture. The idea that religious practice can only exist in a cultural vacuum is absurd. But what happens when those cultural influence leads to the exploitation of women?
The following video from Al-Jazeera English shows the tragic results of certain cultural practices being enforced by religious leaders among Kurdish Muslims in Iraq. The text accompanying the video is as follows:
In the tribal areas of Kurdistan in northern Iraq, arranged marriages have been a way of life for centuries.
But society is changing. Families who engaged their daughters when they were still children are now renegotiating old contracts.
Nicole Johnston reports from Rania district, where some girls are choosing death over an arranged marriage.
Words © 2009 Irfan Yusuf
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