STONE SILENCE
This is the grave of Madam Amina.
This is the grave in which her body was buried once,
but then some clerks and doctors came from the city and opened the grave again,
took out the body and examined it, because they'd heard that she'd been stoned.
After that they confirmed that she died of a heart attack.
Amina's father's home is here in Spingul. This is also the place where it all happened.
We don't know if Amina had a heart attack or commited suicide.
We don't know whether she wanted to divorce her husband or not.
The truth is that Amina went to Karim's home at 10 PM or later.
Then Karim's father went to Amina's parents and told them about this situation.
People from the village beat Karim a little,
so that Amina's family could be peaceful.
The same night they gave back Amina to her family and that's it.
Karim is not here. Karim ran away.
No one knows where Karim is. We only know that he's not in the valley of Spingul.
Karim is not here.
My son Karim was sleeping here
and I was sleeping with my husband in the kitchen.
I heard the door opening,
so I went outside and said: "Karim".
But no one answered.
I told my husband about it and he went into our son's room
and saw a girl sleeping with Karim.
My husband didn't say anything and went to Amina's family.
The relatives came and we gave Amina to them.
In the morning I woke up to make bread, I went to Karim's room to wake him up for prayer.
I went back to my husband's room
and told him that someone took Karim away.
I swear to God I do not know whether he was afraid or went to work.
He didn't even say: "Goodbye, Mom".
Where did he ran away to, I don’t know.
When the day started, people were carrying wood and stones and said that there'll be a funeral.
I thought that some child died or that someone was ill.
I didn't understand a thing.
Only when they brought the body to the mosque, I realized it was this girl, Amina, who was dead.
When people were coming to me asking about this situation, I was crying and my tears were as big as hail.
People would ask: "Why are you crying?".
„In that family a girl has died and no one is crying, but you are crying? Why?".
I said: "Their daughter has died, but they have her grave by their side".
„My son is far away, but if I had his grave close to me, I'd be peaceful".
I don't know whether Karim had some feelings for her or not.
She was married and he was single, so how could he care for her?
Only she and God knows why she was coming to him.
Amina didn't say anything about wanting a divorce, because her husband wasn't home.
She lost her path and left us irritated without honor.
When it's midnight and you're sleeping,
and your daughter gets up and does something that is against the law, how can you accept it?
She gets up, goes to someone's house, even though she has her own husband and family.
She is my daughter, so I said I would kill her.
If she'd stay alive, I'd tell God: "Either take her soul or take mine".
"I'll take taryak and kill myself, leaving my family".
A thousand times I’ve forgiven those who have my daughter's blood on their hands.
I don’t accuse anyone of murder, I don't have enemies,
I give myself to God.
Why does my poor husband have to sit in a jail for a month?
Mullah is in a jail, too, and the mosque is without mullah.
There is no one to call for prayer.
People from the village are in jail, and I'm here all sad and alone.
Was your daughter a happy woman?
No, she was always tired and unhappy.
Why?
How should I know? Only God and she herself knows in her heart.
- Did she look like you?
- No, she didn't look like me.
Salam aleikum. How do you do?
-Thank you.
-Thank you, too.
Why were you brought here?
Because of the situation with Amina.
Who’s Amina to you?
She is my daughter.
- She is your daughter?
- Yes.
- Where is Amina?
- She was killed.
- How was she killed?
- She had a heart attack.
What was her sin?
Her sin was adultery.
- With whom?
- With Karim.
- And where is Karim from?
- He's from the valley of Spingul.
- Who's son is he?
- He's Oshur's son.
- And who is Oshur?
- Oshur is sitting right next to me.
- Is this Oshur?
-Yes.
- Oshur? Karim's father?
- Yes.
Why were you brought here?
Because of the situation of Mohammad Karim.
- Mohammad Karim?
- Yes.
- And where is Mohammad Karim?
- I don’t know where he is now.
- Who is Mohammad Karim to you?
- He's my son, sir.
- He's your son?
- Yes.
Who caught them? Was it during intercourse or not?
It's unclear to me. He will know.
I opened the door and saw my son sleeping in the corner.
And this poor girl was in the room, standing by the door.
I asked her: "Why did you come here?”.
"I had a small fight with my mother", she replied.
And I said: "You had a fight, but it's 10PM right now. Get out".
She only replied: "I won't go anywhere. Let the elders know and let them come here".
People are saying that she was stoned.
Let me tell you that she wasn't stoned.
- There was no stoning.
- No, we didn't hear the mullah deciding to stone her.
People said that they would bring her to me and I said alright.
They were walking her down the road and she had a heart attack.
They were carrying her, she fell on the ground, so they started shoving her.
And when they tried to pick her up, they noticed that she had died.
Come, we’ll go home, our home is your home, my flower, friend.
My heart didn’t come, my friend, why didn’t you come, my flower?
Oh God, why my hope didn’t come?
Flower, lovely flower, my heart, my friend.
No flower’s color compares to your face, my flower, friend.
My eyes can’t get enough of you.
In five years when you come here, there’ll be a hotel here and everything will be alright.
If there isn't a hotel, we ourselves will be the hotel.
We'll be the hotel, alright?
We don't have a bridge. This is a village, a flood could destroy it.
Maybe you could build us a bridge?
We told you everything that was needed.
You can't do anything for us.
We told different companies what we needed.
But they said they couldn't do anything for us.
Can you do something for us or not?
If you can't help us, why did you come here?
You're making a film
and we don't know what you’re going to do with it.
It won't do anything for us.
Hey Aslam! Did you fight the Russians? For how long?
How many Russians did you kill?
We killed a few Russians in those mountains, over there.
They were walking through the fields and got caught in a trap.
- How long were you in a jail for?
- I think two or three months. Two months.
Was your wife in jail too?
No, she was called to court,
but she never went to jail.
- She wasn't in jail?
- No, I don't think she was.
No, she wasn't in jail.
She went there a few times.
- So she wasn't in jail?
- Who? My wife?
No, she wasn't in jail.
I don't think she was. She went there for one or two days,
but not for two or three months.
But they said that your wife should stay in jail for six years. Is this true?
I swear to God, I didn't know about this.
I was in jail. I only knew that there was some fine.
I also knew that there was a six year sentence for my wife, but I didn't know about the rest.
All I understood is that I would be set free by the court.
Are you satisfied with your family?
Yes, of course I am.
If you are not happy, then your life doesn't go on.
After the investigation, the police and prosecutor announce
that Amina has been killed by her relatives,
who did it under the pressure of a crowd of 500-600 people.
The court in Argu gives out a sentence.
And the police and prosecutor do what?
They set the accused people free,
because the relatives of Amina have agreed on that.
The court of the last instance
decided that the investigation was incomplete and the sentence unfair.
The accused people have admitted that they decided to stone her.
But during the investigation they took back what they had said.
As a judge, I had the right to point this fact out.
I asked for this case to be cleared up.
I asked to sue those who were responsible for killing and to sentence them.
The police and prosecutor didn't execute my order.
Now, I’m surprised that the authorities
are not afraid of the consequences of not abiding by the law.
The accused people were caught but then set free.
Everything was clear,
but the authorities felt threatened and hid the case.
Even if they will want to hang me,
I’m pleased that I demasked the whole case.
Why don't the police and prosecutor go to court?
What kind of police is this? What kind of prosecutor?
What kind of authorities are they?
Where is conscience and responsibility?
Damn the man who calls himself a prosecutor!
The whole world heard about this story.
Afghanistan lost its good reputation.
Each case which darkens our country and people, is a tragedy, I can't tolerate that.
You need to have a heart to improve our country.
The authorities and Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission are investigating this case.
Every crime has it's beginning.
If Karim didn't have any contacts with Amina earlier,
how could she come to his house just like that?
If Karim reports to the authorities,
he will probably have to go to court.
In our civil law, cases like this one are clear and precise.
There is a minimum and maximum imprisonment.
In this case, the court can imprison Karim from 10 to 15 years,
which means that it can give 11, 12, 13 or 14 years of imprisonment.
When did you move here?
I've been here since March. Six months. Six months.
Sister, that's the way life is.
One day is good, one day is bad.
Sister, you'll come here, you'll build this house and then someone will come and destroy it.
And then, you'll have to build it again, but I’m happy everyday.
This year I’m here, next year in Kunduz, after that in Kabul, looking for work.
I don't have any sorrows, I don't have any problems.
No one threw me out of Spingul or forced me to leave,
no one beat me. Everything is alright.
Is Karim here or in Takhar?
We wanted to speak to him.
I swear to God he was here a month ago,
but now he isn't here, because he went to look for work.
I don't have a cow, a donkey or chickens .
I don't have anything except for a sickle
with which I reap.
And Karim went off to look for work.
Chop my head off, let it fall down
and I still won’t tell you the truth.
Since I’m giving you this interview, what will it give you?
I'll either be killed and my head will fall, and what will be left of my life.
Or my son's head will fall and what will I need my life for, then?
If you have a relationship with someone’s woman,
then someone will have a relationship with your woman.
If you have a relationship with someone's daughter,
someone will have a relationship with your daughter.
If you break someone's door, your door will be broken, too.
If you are walking the right path,
no one will look badly at your house. I swear to God.
Even if I chop my son's head off, he still won't tell me anything.
Set a place to eat.
- Where is the rug?
- The big one?
I left it under the luggage.
I don't know what to do with myself, I'm lost.
- Karim, do you want to go back to Spingul?
- Yes, I want to go back.
Why are you hiding, then,
and don't want to tell the truth?
Go and give them some food.
What are the rest of the men doing?
They are asking them questions.
They are asking Karim about the girl.
How she came that night, etc.
Why aren't they drinking tea?
Aren't they hungry? &am