![This series reflects on the vulnerable and dangerous circumstances of lesbian women in Iran and is the result of brave LGBT+ women willing to work with me to raise awareness despite the risk for their personal safety.Under the Iranian penal code, homosexuality is a punishable crime. But even though mosaheqeh, or the rubbing of female genitalia between two or more women, is punishable under Iranian law by flogging of 100 lashes and can lead to imprisonment, abuse and even torture, the lesbian women I’ve met in Iran shared with me that they were more afraid of their families than of the government. This fact is also reflected in the report of OutRight International. The constant fear of being disowned, rejected and/or assaulted by their families often leads to depression, drug abuse and suicide attempts.The situation of lesbian rights in Iran is particularly complex, since Iranian lesbians face double discrimination - first as women and then as lesbians. Many L(G)BT+ girls are desperately fighting to escape forced marriage (since under Sharia law, they are required to have a male guardian to be able to study, get a job, rent apartments, be operated on in hospitals etc.) or are trying to survive the wifely obligations expected of her, having no choice but to put up with constant marital rape (which is not a crime in Iran).NB: This series was created between October 2016 and April 2017Photo 7: “I had just given birth and spent time with my mother. [My husband] called me and told me to go back home immediately. He kicked me on my back and I fell down the stairs. He told me that he wouldn’t allow me to see my parents anymore. I told him that I wanted a divorce. He threatened to cut my head off. I tried to run away, but he grabbed me and dragged me home in front of everybody on the street´](https://www.zilverencamera.nl/wp-content/gallery/silent-voices-lgbt-iran/2017-documentair-internationaal-silent-voices-lgbt-iran-590150.JPG "This series reflects on the vulnerable and dangerous circumstances of lesbian women in Iran and is the result of brave LGBT+ women willing to work with me to raise awareness despite the risk for their personal safety.Under the Iranian penal code, homosexuality is a punishable crime. But even though mosaheqeh, or the rubbing of female genitalia between two or more women, is punishable under Iranian law by flogging of 100 lashes and can lead to imprisonment, abuse and even torture, the lesbian women I’ve met in Iran shared with me that they were more afraid of their families than of the government. This fact is also reflected in the report of OutRight International. The constant fear of being disowned, rejected and/or assaulted by their families often leads to depression, drug abuse and suicide attempts.The situation of lesbian rights in Iran is particularly complex, since Iranian lesbians face double discrimination - first as women and then as lesbians. Many L(G)BT+ girls are desperately fighting to escape forced marriage (since under Sharia law, they are required to have a male guardian to be able to study, get a job, rent apartments, be operated on in hospitals etc.) or are trying to survive the wifely obligations expected of her, having no choice but to put up with constant marital rape (which is not a crime in Iran).NB: This series was created between October 2016 and April 2017Photo 7: “I had just given birth and spent time with my mother. [My husband] called me and told me to go back home immediately. He kicked me on my back and I fell down the stairs. He told me that he wouldn’t allow me to see my parents anymore. I told him that I wanted a divorce. He threatened to cut my head off. I tried to run away, but he grabbed me and dragged me home in front of everybody on the street´")
1e prijs documentair internationaal (serie)
Silent Voices, L(G)BT Iran
De situatie van lesbische vrouwen in Iran is extra complex, omdat zij op twee manieren met discriminatie te maken hebben: omdat ze vrouw zijn en omdat ze lesbisch zijn. Hoewel op homoseksuele gedragingen strenge straffen staan, zoals zweepslagen en gevangenisstraf, zijn de meeste lesbische vrouwen banger voor hun familie dan voor de overheid. De angst voor uitsluiting, afwijzing en geweld door familie leidt vaak tot depressies en drugsgebruik. Veel Iraanse lesbische vrouwen leven daarom parallelle levens, waarvan er een volledig geheim blijft.
DE FOTOGRAAF
Marinka Masséus