A film-maker based in London has been threatened with legal action by the European Union after making a documentary that exposed abuse of women in Afghanistan.
The EU hired Clementine Malpas to highlight the plight of battered wives and rape victims convicted of "moral crimes" by anti-female Afghan courts. However, 24 hours before the film was due to be delivered, EU officials said they would block its release as they did not want to upset "relations with the justice institutions" in Afghanistan, and Ms Malpas, 30, is now accused of breaching her contract after claims the film was screened for outside viewers.
She obtained written consent to film Gulnaz, 19, who was jailed for 12 years for adultery after being raped, and Farida, 26, also jailed for adultery after fleeing her abusive husband. Both women risked their personal safety to speak out over their treatment at the hands of Afghanistan's judicial system. Gulnaz was filmed saying: "I have to [do the film] because when everybody sees this it will be a lesson for them and these things won't happen in Afghanistan." Her husband's cousin raped her, making her pregnant, but after going to police she was jailed in Kabul, where her little daughter is with her.
The EU insists it is protecting the women by hiding their identities, but it is understood Ms Malpas, from Kensal Rise, told EU officials they were silencing them against their will. Friends of the film-maker said it was a bizarre position for an international delegation publicly committed to improving women's rights.
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