CTV announced yesterday that the 2010 Hot Docs winner for the Best Canadian Feature Award, In the Name of the Family, will air on the network Sept. 7. The documentary was sparked when a Mississauga, Ont., Muslim man strangled his 16-year-old daughter for honour and then called 911. Aqsa Parvez died in her own home.
According to the film, this is the fate of some 5,000 women around the world. The two-hour offering hails from award-winning filmmaker Shelley Saywell, who specializes in films that deal with human rights issues.
In Parvez’s case, she was punished for trying to assimilate at her high school, refusing to wear a hijab. Her father and brother both strangled her for defying their male authority, something that Islam doesn’t preach or endorse, but in the past has been open to cultural interpretation.
The film also explores other cases of this type of violence against women in Canada and the U.S., which has risen in direct correlation to immigration in the past few years.
Sarah and Amina Said were shot to death by their father in Dallas (he has since disappeared), and New Yorker Fauzia Mohammad was stabbed 11 times by her brother — and survived.
According to the film, the smallest indiscretions bring shame to the men featured, such as a woman wearing tight clothing or talking with non-Muslim males. In the minds of these men, they believe they are justified for taking action.
In the Name of the Family airs Sept. 7, 9 p.m. ET, CTV.
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