Editor | Lorraine Koonce |
---|---|
Author | Kameel Ahmady Et al |
Cover artist | Sedigheh Asheghi |
Country | Denmark |
Language | English |
Subjects | women Studies Sociology Social pathology |
Genre | Scientific research |
Published | 2021 |
Publisher | Avaye Buf Publishing |
Pages | 319 |
Award | Honour Award at the University of London Law School (2017), IKWRO Organization – for research on gender and children |
ISBN | 978-87-93926-93-6 |
Echo of Silence is a book related to the issue of women's studies in Iran. Kameel Ahmady, a social anthropologist and researcher, supervised a research book titled "Echo of Silence", which is a study about child marriage in Iran. It was published on October 11, 2016, which is also the International Day of the Girl Child. [1] [2] [3] The book is based on research that Ahmady and his colleagues conducted in seven provinces of Iran between 2015 and 2016. They aimed to understand the nature of child marriage in Iran and provide suggestions for social and cultural policymakers. The Persian version of this book was published by Shirazeh Publishing House and unveiled national in library and the English version published in 2017 by Nova publishing in USA. [4] [5] [6]
This study is a continuation of Kameel Ahmady's research on social issues in Iranian society and the middle east. In the introduction of his book, he explains that when the researchers were investigating the prevalence of female genital mutilation with the titles "In the Name of Tradition" and " The Changing Paradigms " in the country, they realized a strong connection between female genital mutilation/ cutting (FGM/C) and child marriage. They found that most girls who suffer from genital mutilation in their early lives also get married during childhood and adolescence. Therefore, after finishing their research on female genital mutilation / cutting in three provinces of southern Iran, Ahmady and his colleagues started their next study on child marriage in various parts of the country. [7] [8] [1] [2] [9]
The marriage rate of individuals under eighteen years old in Iran varies across different provinces. Based on official statistics from the 2013 census, the Civil Registry Organization's marriage and divorce records, and other research data, some provinces have a higher rate of child marriages than others. In this study, the researcher focused on seven provinces with the highest number of child marriages: Khorasan Razavi, East Azerbaijan, Khuzestan, Sistan and Baluchistan, West Azerbaijan, Hormozgan, and Isfahan. To conduct this research, a large-scale qualitative approach was used with the cluster sampling method. [10] [11] [1] [12] [13] [14]
Causes and consequences of child marriage
The third chapter of the book presents the findings of the research and discusses several cultural, social, political, and religious factors that contribute to the prevalence of child marriage in Iran. The study identifies poverty, lack of education and literacy, legal and judicial protections, societal pressures and patriarchal attitudes, and traditional and religious beliefs as the most significant causes of early marriage in Iran. [15] [16] [17] [18] The author points out that in developing countries like Iran, child marriage is often pursued for economic reasons, to improve the family's financial situation. While the term "child marriage" encompasses both young girls and boys, the statistics and societal realities indicate that girls are disproportionately affected and face more severe consequences. [19] [8] [20]
This chapter talks about why some families allow their children to get married at a young age. Some parents think that it will make their family stronger and prevent their daughters from having sex before marriage, which they believe is important. [21] [22] [23] However, research shows that there are many negative consequences for girls who get married too young. They may have problems with sex, pregnancy, and childbirth because they are not fully developed. They may also suffer from mental health problems and domestic violence. Child marriage can also lead to divorce, child widowhood, and children who are not properly cared for. However, if girls are allowed to continue their education and find jobs, they can have better opportunities for personal and social growth. [24] [2] [25] [17] [26] This research besides highlighting the link between honour killings and child marriage lists other negative outcomes associated with it such as higher rates of divorce, child widowhood, unattended children, self-harm, suicide, running away, and missed opportunities for personal and social development, such as continuing education and employment. [15] [16] [23] [27]
The fourth and final chapter of the book proposes solutions and recommendations to address the harmful effects of child marriage. The suggestions include increasing the legal age of marriage to 18 years, revising the laws of temporary marriage, promoting cultural and educational programs, accurately registering marriages, ensuring government commitment and coordination with relevant organizations, providing compulsory and free education, raising awareness of the consequences of child marriage through mass media and new technologies, providing judicial and legal support to outlaw child marriage, and determining severe punishments for offenders. Additionally, the use of spiritual and religious leaders as social reference groups in Iran is suggested to address child marriage. [28] [1] [29] [30] [31] [3] [32]
At the same time that researchers were investigating child marriage in Iran and sharing their findings, there was a proposal to raise the legal age of marriage in the Iranian Parliament. This proposal or white paper aimed to address the problems and harms associated with child marriage, and suggested that girls should not get married before the age of 15 and boys before the age of 18. The research, "Echo of Silence", provided scientific evidence to support this proposal and was presented to the parliament, where it was approved with urgency. However, due to political and religious sensitivities in the country, the proposal was later rejected by the parliament's judicial committee. Currently, the legal age of marriage in Iran is 13 years for girls and 15 years for boys. In some cases, with a court decision and the consent of the paternal grandfather, the age of marriage for girls can be lowered to as young as 9 years old. [33] [34] [35] [32] [36]
Kameel Ahmady was arrested and spent more than hundred days in Section 2A of the IRGC Intelligence Organization in Evin prison and was sentenced to 9 years and three months in prison. One of the accusations against him was "subversion through research by conducting research study on child marriage, where he suggested raising the age of marriage due to the negative impact it has on children, families, and society. This research was approved as a scientific supplement to the plan to raise the age of marriage in the Islamic Council of Iran. However, the government viewed this research and Bill 1041 as a threat to the country's population growth and a way for the enemy to influence Iranian customs and laws. [37] [38] [39] [40] [41] [42] [43] [44] [45] [46]
Kameel Ahmady has received many awards from different scientific institutions and organizations for his research on social harms, including FGM/C and child marriage in Iran and other countries. In 2013, he received an international certificate from AMERA International for his research and scientific perspective on female genital mutilation/cutting. [47] In 2017, he received Honor Award from the Inter-African Committee (IAC) for his research in Africa and Middle Eastern countries. In 2017, alongside other winners in various categories, Kameel Ahmady was awarded the "True Honor" award by the organization IKWRO at the London law university for his research collection in the field of gender and children's rights. [48] [49] [50] Kameel Ahmady's literary works concerning social issues, children, and minorities were recognized in 2018 when he received the "Literature and Humanities Award" from the World Peace Foundation at the George Washington university. [51] [52] [53]
The book "Echo of Silence " is now available in multiple formats of paper, E book and audio book . Originally published in Persian in 2016 by Shirazeh publishing house, the English version quickly followed in 2017, published by Nova publishing in America. This work has been updated in 2022 and expanded with new information and is now available in both audio and electronic formats through Avay e Buff Publishing and LAP Lambert Academic Publishing. The book is now available in a variety of languages and formats with translations available in Persian, Kurdish, English, French, Spanish, and other languages. [1] [2] [16] [54]
The legal age for marriage in Iran is 9-13 for girls and 15 for boys, unless there is court order for children 9 or younger with parents or guardian approve. However, in practice, many marriages involve adults with minors. Polygamy is allowed for men, with certain conditions - eg. legal registration - women, on the other hand, can only marry one man at a time. Divorce is legal and can be initiated by either party. The divorce rate in Iran is relatively high with rates being as many as one divorce in three marriages by 2023. Marriage is encouraged in Iran, and there are social pressures to marry. The government provides financial incentives for marriage and childbirth such a loans, land and matchmaking services.
Abolqasem Salavati is an Iranian judge and former head of the 15th branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran, Iran. In recent years, he had been the judge of numerous controversial cases. He has been sanctioned by the United States and the European Union.
Aparat is an Iranian video-sharing service which began tentatively in February 2011, and officially two months later on April 13, 2011. In 2020, due to the activity of one of the users of Aparat, its CEO was sentenced to ten years in prison. He has since been released. Aparat, as well as Cloob and Mihanblog websites, have been launched by Saba Idea Tech Company and are managed by Mohammad Javad Shakouri Moghhadam. Aparat was selected as the best film website in 2011.
Kameel Ahmady is a British-Iranian scholar working in the field of social anthropology, with a particular focus on gender, children, ethnic minorities, and child labour. Kameel Ahmady, born in 1972 in Naghadeh, West Azerbaijan Province, is an Iranian-British researcher and social anthropologist known for his research and activities in the fields of social anthropology and harmful traditional practices. He is the coordinator and developer of more than 11 research study books and 20 scientific articles in Persian, English, Turkish, and Kurdish on subjects such as child marriage, temporary marriage, White marriage, female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), Male circumcision, child labour and children's scavenging, LGBTQ+ issues and identity and ethnicity.
Order of Knowledge is one of the badges of honor in Iran. Its establishment dates back to the Qajar dynasty era under the name of "Order of Science"; later in the Pahlavi dynasty the name was changed to "Order of Knowledge". Finally, it was reestablished in Islamic Republic era by "Council of Iran Ministers" on November 21, 1990.
Poopak Niktalab is an Iranian education theorist, author, and literary researcher, especially of children's literature.
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Nikta Esfandani was one of the victims of the Bloody November 2019 in Iran.
Rayehe Mozafarian is an Iranian women and children rights activist, author, and documentary filmmaker. The founder of Stop FGM Iran group and Woman and Zoorkhaneh campaign, she is best known for her researches and raising awareness about female genital mutilation in Iran and challenging the country's Zoorkhaneh Sports Federation to unban women from participating Iranian's ancient sport pahlevani and zoorkhaneh rituals.
The book In the Name of Tradition is the outcome of a comprehensive study on female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in Iran conducted by Kameel Ahmady, an anthropologist and researcher, and his colleagues. It was published in Farsi by Shirazeh in 2015 and followed by an English version by Uncutvoice publishing house in the same year. The study explores why and how FGM is practised in Iran. The researchers aimed to uncover the various dimensions of FGM between 2005 and 2015 in four provinces: West Azerbaijan, Kurdistan, Kermanshah, and Hormozgan.
House with Open Door is a book by Kameel Ahmady that examines the social phenomenon of cohabitation, called "white marriage" in Iran, in which couples live together without legally marrying.
Forbidden Tale was written by Kameel Ahmady, a British Iranian social researcher and anthropologist, and published by Mehri Publishing House in 2020 in London. The book is based on Ahmady's research from 2017 to 2018, which aimed to investigate the challenges and attitudes towards the Iranian transgender and homosexual community. The book later become available in Persian, Kurdish, French, Spanish, and English.
A House on Water is a book that explores the social and psychological impacts of temporary marriage and religious concubinage in Iran, researched and coordinated by Kameel Ahmady, a British-Iranian anthropologist and social researcher. The book is based on a research project that Ahmady and his team conducted between 2017 and 2018 in three major cities of Iran: Tehran, Isfahan, and Mashhad. The book aims to provide a historical overview of temporary marriage in Iran and the world and to examine its prevalence among different social groups and its consequences for those who choose this type of marriage.
A research study entitled From Border to Border was by Kameel Ahmady, a British Iranian anthropologist and social researcher, and his colleagues to examine the challenges and opportunities of ethnic and local identities in Iran and the interaction of the political system with various ethnic groups and local identities between 2019 and 2021 in 13 provinces of Iran. The results of this research were published in a book with the same title by Mehri Publishing House in London in 2021. The book was later reprinted by Avaye Buf publishing house in Denmark. This book has been published in three languages Persian, English and Kurdish.
The book Traces of Exploitation in the World of Childhood is a study by Kameel Ahmady, an Iranian-British researcher and anthropologist, and his colleagues, focused on investigating child labour in Iran. The book was published by Avaye Buf in Farsi and Kurdish languages in 2021, coinciding with World Child labour Day on June 12. The publication came after the completion and release of the research project " Childhood Yawn," which Ahmady supervised for the Association for the Protection of Children and Adolescent Rights. The book is part of a series of activities and research that Ahmady and his colleagues have conducted to explore and deeply investigate different forms of children's work and the reasons that lead them to this type of work. The book highlights the causes and reasons behind child labour, which include providing a part of living expenses, learning skills for future employment, and the impracticality of formal education and training in acquiring skills and finding a job in the labour market. It also introduces some of the most significant consequences of child labour, such as the exploitation of children's work, emotional and psychological crises, personality disorders, and damage to the process of socialization.
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Saeideh Shafiei is an Iranian story writer and journalist. She contributes to economic topics in journalism, and her novel 'The Spiral Girl' has been published. Recognized as a laureate of the International Festival of Press and News Agencies, Shafiei was arrested at the same time as the Mahsa Amini protests, which are known as the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement and occurred following the death of Mahsa Amini.
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