Veronica Abdala
08/21/2021 15:00
Clarín.com
Culture
Updated 08/21/2021 3:00 PM
The progression of the photos shows the invisibility of a mother, her daughter and the doll under a scarf, a hijab and a burqa: in the end
black prevails, swallowing everything
, like death itself.
Yemeni photographer
Boushra Yahya Almutawakel
published her work in 2010, titled
Mother, Daughter and Doll,
as part of a larger photography project,
The Hijab Series
.
The sequence of
the women who disappear behind the veils
is made up of eight images that depict
an idea: the progressive invisibility of women,
the attempt to neutralize them, censor them, repress them, in short.
In turn, the work highlights
the strength and courage
of Middle Eastern women.
During these hours, the photos not only circulated again on social networks but
also became viral
because of what they represent and due to the worsening of the political situation in Afghanistan.
Image: “Mother, Daughter, Doll”, from her series "The Hijab Series", 2010.
It is already known that the seizure of power by the Taliban puts the women's conquests of the last two decades at risk: within this framework, prohibitions, restrictions and
human rights violations
are feared
.
There is a precedent that makes you fear the worst and justify the fear: the Taliban, who
are governed by a strict interpretation of Islamic law,
already ruled Afghanistan for five years, between 1996 and 2001. At that time,
they were denied the right to work and even leave their homes without a man.
There were also
public executions and mutilations
of women accused of adultery, or detained for wear sandals that showed off
her feet.
The sequence of the women who disappear behind the veils is made up of eight images that show what wearing them implies: a progressive invisibility.
In these past two decades, women have made remarkable strides.
For this reason, the world is alert
and feminist groups warn of the danger
of a setback.
And they even promoted a petition, which already accumulates 50 thousand signatures, in which they ask for the opening of the borders for Afghan women.
Photographer in Yemen
Almutawakel was the first woman to become a professional photographer in Yemen: she trained in the United States and returned to her country in the mid-1990s at the age of 25.
Later, she founded a gallery for art exhibitions and debates and focused on works aimed at rethinking the role of women in contemporary societies.
Afghan displaced people.
The country is experiencing a time of fear and chaos.
In this one, the series that made her famous
, proposes to reflect on
the conditions imposed by fanatic-led regimes
that tend to erase certain groups from the scene.
The artist thinks that "
instead of covering women, they should focus on men
, educate them on how to treat and respect women, which I think is more in line with Islam, at least for me."
# AFGHANISTAN Yemeni photographer Boushra Yahya Almutawakel shows the disappearance of women under the hijab, a situation that is getting worse in Afghanistan.
pic.twitter.com/Ywys8UovP3
- Cultura Colectiva News (@CCNews__) August 17, 2021
Regarding the use of the different types of veils that cover the body and face, the photographer thinks that it should be each woman who decides whether to use it or not.
She has said in statements to the press:
"I have mixed feelings
about it. When I am in Yemen, I feel comfortable with it because everyone uses it and in a way I feel safer from some looks from men. It is, indeed So liberating. But for me it doesn't make sense to cover my eyes or wear gloves. "
And also: "Another thing that causes me a problem is seeing girls with veils or even with the
nicab.
Although finally I believe that each woman has the right to choose how she wants to present herself to the world, whether with
hijab, nicab
or none of them".
GOES
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