The Muted Cry. One Act Play. The Action in the play is taking place one of the cities in United Kingdom Characters in the play

Transcription

1 The Muted Cry written by Abdirahman Yusuf Artan Translated by Zahra Jibril One Act Play The Action in the play is taking place one of the cities in United Kingdom Characters in the play 1. Hodon s mother from a former Husband 35 years 2. Milgo s Husband 50 years 3. Milgo s cousin Anab s son Anab s daughter neighborhood friend neighborhood friend Naimo: neighborhood friend Sh. Hassan Imam of the local Mosque Crowd of young people (how many?) Scene 1 Anab and Milgo are on stage. Both of them look very stressed and anxious. Milgo looks very sad as well. Milgo, what happened? You came back very quickly. Did you not carry out the task we discussed? Hey, why do you look so upset? Anab, something really bad has happened to me... but it is not something I can tell you here sister... come closer to me. (They lean closer towards each other) Did you already sort Hodon out and make her halal? No, I did not make her halal, I buried her! (Milgo looks devastated and full of fear) Buried her? (Anab is in shock and expresses disbelief and is confused about what Milgo means).

2 Burying her would have been better... Hodon is injured... I should have listened to you when you told me... Sister Milgo calm down... You are crying. What is going on? As soon as we arrived back home, it was the first thing we decided to sort out. This old lady was recommended to us by everyone. I knew she did the procedure quiet painfully, but I took my daughter to her. She was a wise old woman, who has carried out female circumcision on hundreds of other girls. I do not know what went wrong. As soon as she started the procedure and the small blade slit Hodon, I told the old women, How come you do not use anaesthetics!? She replied, I have never used anaesthetics on any of the girls I have circumcised. Then my dear sister, the old lady started to circumcise Hodon. Myself and four other women were holding Hodon down. From the moment the blade touched Hodon, she was screaming - not just any scream her scream could spilt the sky or wake the dead! Her scream pieced my soul! I have never heard such an anguish and pain in my life!! Even the old lady who was furthers away from her and holding her leg down said, what are these terror inducing screams that are coming from this young girl? (Milgo is in pain and crying softly. She continues). After that terror filled screams, there was not another sound from Hodon, Not another sound emerged. I looked at her face. She was silent but huge tears dripped from her eyes. Her face covered in sweat even though we were sitting in a cold place. Her eyes caught mine. Her gaze full of pain and a thousand accusations. I couldn t hold her gaze. I think she understood the enormity of the injury that she sustained. I loosened my grip on her arms. She struggled to lift the dead weight of her arm up to softly caress my face. Tears filled my eyes and started to fall, dripping down on to her face. She bared her teeth and the arm she held up to my face fell heavily on to the floor. I leaped forward and said to the old lady who was still carrying out the procedure, Stop! Stop! My daughter has died! Stop cutting her with the blade!. The old women said, I am very fast. I finished the procedure a long time ago. Get off the girl and stop bending over her. I thought Hodan had died but she was still alive. I relaxed a little bit, but after a while Hodon was still silent. She had still not uttered a single word. I realised that the severity of the pain had sent her into some kind of shock. Her terror screams and anguish had burst her ear drums damaging her hearing and speaking ability. (Anab silently cries)

3 This is my situation now. Maybe it would have been better if she had died. This is all my fault! I know there is no adequate medical care in Somaliland, so I decided to bring Hodon back to England to get her the medical help she needs. Milgo, don t you know that what you have done is a criminal act in this country and you will be prosecuted? (wiping her tears) I accept all responsibilities and punishments that arise from this matter. I want to be judged and punished for the crime I have committed against my precious daughter.i am ready to accept the full punishment of the law for the crime against my daughter. There is no other way for me to feel better than serve my punishment. Oh my dear sister, if only my regrets and anguish would cause my death!? Oh Milgo! What on earth would cause you to seek female circumcision? It is such horrible thing to inflict on your daughter? Anab, I only wanted my daughter to have a good reputation and be better than other girls of her age. I wanted her to be better than them in her culture and her religion however I ve been unlucky as my daughter Hodon cannot speak or hear. Oh God! I have disabled my daughter! I want to be put on trial for this crime. (Amina who has heard the final part of the conversation) So, now Hodon cannot speak, nor can she hear? Because of brutal FGM! Aunty! That is homicide! An arrest warrant is going to be issued against you! (Ali comes in) What happened Amina? Behave yourself Amina! Are you proclaiming that your aunty is arrested? Mother, what happened? Ali, Hodon is dead! Hodon dead? (Ali is shocked) Yes! Because of FGM she lost the capacity of speech and hearing! Who did this to her? (Ali is angry) Aunty Milgo did that to her! She took her to Somaliland to do FGM to her. She brought her back disabled! I am saying that aunty must go to jail for her actions?

4 Uncle Alin should also go to jail because he is also a culprit! He knew why Hodon was being taken back home. Aunty, you have committed a crime, a serious crime! Do you understand? Lots of people said to me, Don t take your daughter back to Europe in this state. If you take her back in this state, you will bring attention and a criminal charge against yourself. When I inflicted this on my daughter, I was trying to do something beneficial for my daughter but I have injured her. I have now brought her back to Europe to try and save her and get her the medical attention she needs. I do not care about what happens to me, and I shoulder the responsibility for any blame or punishment that arises from this tragedy. It is my fault. Do not worry for me. My only concern now and the only thing I can think about is how Hodon can be helped (she cries softly). Aunty, I am sorry. I can feel your anguish and suffering. I know you were not trying to hurt Hodon or cause her any pain. Hooyo, does government there in Somaliland approve of FGM? You have been all along telling us that there is law and order there. But this is a tradition.stronger than any law and order (Alin comes in. He is not happy that the situation has been exposed) what is that stronger than law and order? Are you guys talking about our situation? And you have informed Amina and Ali too? Uncle, you are a criminal! It is clear you have committed a criminal act! You damaged your daughter and now you want to hide it? You are the first person who should go to jail? Young man, listen to me. Let s find a house doctor to treat the girl at home. We can pay privately. Otherwise, myself and your aunty will be in a lot of trouble, particularly your aunty. She was wrong to bring her back here in this state! It is not possible for us to treat her here in secret. Take her to one of the Arab countries. Get the girl a ticket and take her... Your hagbad (savings) should be enough to pay for these costs. Ask to collect earlier so we can take the girl abroad. We should get her a ticket to the UAE. This will not be possible. The damage done to Hodon is not one that can be treated in the UAE or in any Arab country. Let whatever is going to be happen, she needs to be treated either in the UK or Germany.

5 Aalin: Milgo you will be imprisoned, you will be dealt with swiftly, not only that but it will be splashed all over the newspapers that the Somali community is primitive and then we will be mocked and laughed at, I will not agree to that! Uncle, we are discussing someone s life and trying to salvage the damage done to them and you are concerned with the image of the community, if they say Somalis are primitive and wild is it a lie?... uncle it is not a lie, we have to face the facts, until we face the truth, and accept what we are, we are not going to be a successful community. What do you want?... for it to be said that Somalis are smart, they are educated and worldly people? That they are the smartest people in the world, eh? I cannot handle lies, secretes and pretending... this is how you brought us up. This is why we are behind the rest of the world. This is not the time for a debate, let s make a decision. There is no other decision to be reached, We need to take Hodon to the doctors, whatever problems that arises from this, I will take responsibility for it alone. Aunty, you are a nice person... I can understand your feelings... aunty you are a brave person... aunty you are an honest person... aunty...quick grab aunty she is fainting..! (Milgo and Amina and Anab grab Milgon and support her- walking her off the stage). Are you guys talking to this crazy women who wants to hand herself in!... I swear to God, if this issue becomes public, and it makes it to the newspapers and TV, I swear, forget the Somalis in the UK, Somalis in the whole of Europe will not be able to stay and live in Europe... due to the resulting shame, bad publicity and poor public image... And you, do you agree with the women that Hodon should be taken to the hospital, and then they are arrested and the rest of us have to suffer the humiliation and consequence of the bad press? Why did you not put a stop to this early on before Hodon was injured? What was I suppose to do?... The woman does not ask me anything about that aspect of family decision... She makes all the decisions on her own in that regards. Let s see what she gains from it. It is clear to me that those decisions made by women, only leads to problems and ill fated consequences. Lots of girls have been circumcised before with no problem, I wonder what godforsaken place she took her to sustain such horrific injuries. Milgo is telling the truth, we have to think about the best way to save Hodon, everything else is minor, a secondary concern...

6 Is the bad image of our community a minor issue? This issue that affects the whole community, tarnishes our image is secondary and minor to you?? You have no pride, you were brought up as a refugee and a minority with no sense of self worth, pride or awareness of the position esteem name and image in a society. The news and other people are only pointing out the obvious, they will only write the truth... that Somali people butcher their girls with a knife and cut them up mercilessly, are they going to write something other than that? While you are trying to run away from the bad publicity and image generated by t this now, why don t you do something about this bad practice in our community that would result in this bad image. You want to address the consequence of this problem but not address this bad practice... how is that possible, don t you know people outside our community will see the marks and problems we cause our girls on daily basis... Every time one of our girls goes to see the doctor, they will be asked questions they cannot answer, because you have even convinced them that they should hide their problems, even the associated health problems that arise from having this done to guard the communities image. Alin we have been peddling these lies for a long time, it is no longer working, we do not have a good public image to guard, it does not exist... it is time that we face the bitter reality, as Amina would say let s face the facts.. no more monkey business... no more lies that FGM is harmless, we are fed up of you guys, we feel ashamed of you. And another thing, don t you feel bad and hurt by the enormous problems that Hodon is confronted with now? (Walks out in angry) (stands silently for a while staring at Ali retreating back) I m mad or someone is singing in Yemen?! (Walks out) Scene 2 I swear to god, we cannot put up with this, little Hodon is in a serious condition, who is calling the ambulance? Oh god, what happened? The terrible FGM is taking its toll. Poor girl was taken to Somaliland, she had a serious operation... She lost the capacity of speech and hearing. see how terrible?

7 However, it s a religious ritual so tough luck ladies there is nothing we can do about it? I personally do not think that our religion agrees with this ugly practice... Mukhtar, do not tell me that the religion approves of FGM? it is a religious culture... If it is rooted in religion, why don t the other Muslim communities practice it? What about the other Muslims eh...we are not the only Muslims in the world, what about other Muslims, do they practice FGM. no they do not? So something must be wrong with our community. She is correct; other Muslims do not practice this... Mukhtar may be it is a cultural practice since it s confined to the Somali Community and is not practiced by other Muslims in our entire neighbourhood, here comes Alin, he is an expert on cultural things... Alin tell us, is FGM a religious practice or a cultural practice? wait, this is a problem which he is currently faced with as it has impacted on his niece.uncle we are grieved by the hardship that faces your girl. Uncle, is FGM a religious practice or a cultural practice? It is both a religious practice and a cultural practice. It is a tradition that we have followed for generations, it is only now when we came to the UK or Europe that people started to look down on the practice and talk negatively about the practice... it is almost like the problems people kept mentioning become true and now every time the procedure is carried out, the wounds become infected or another complication and the person nearly dies as a result... Our girl is now critically ill and she has been rushed to the hospital... If it is a religious practice, I am not going to comment on it, but if it is a cultural practice, it is unacceptable, because we have lots of cultural practices and traditions that are rooted in unjust habits such as tribalism, looting of camels, discriminated clans, I think FGM is in this category and one of these bad cultural practices. It has to be eliminated, but I think FGM is a religious practice. I think is not enough to convince us, if it is a cultural practice then it is a harmful practice, however if it is a religious practice... FGM is a religious practice, should we leave our religion and follow the non Muslims... No we must preserve our culture and our religion.

8 Mukhtaar: Okay, I don t know the religion very well, however I do not think that the religion permits this harmful practice that harms girls...mukhtar, who told you that the religion allows FGM and where did you read it? It does not make any logical sense. Naima, Religion is not based on logic... the religion was revealed to us, it is a complete package deal and we have to accept it like it is, so don t talk about logic and stuff. I am sorry...but something is telling me FGM has nothing to do with our religion. Mukhtar, you were saying it is religious practice, where did you read it? I didn t read it anywhere, and no one told me, but I think religion approves of this practice because if it does not, then how come the practice has not died out as yet, I just ask... why do people go through all that damage and all the trauma in the name of what then? Mukhatar.. again you are using logic... we need to know what our sacred religion says about FGM, this is very important we need to consult with a shikh and ask him about the position of our religion on FGM? That is a good idea, good thinking, I know a shiekh... Who is it? Is it the imam of the mosque? Guys, we need a big shiekh, one who knows the Quran and Hadith very well. We need a solid base to get to the truth of the matter and find out what the religion says about this practice. Shiekh Hasan, he is a very smart Shikh well educated and well versed in Islamic affairs.. he can give us a satisfactory answer for all our questions regarding this issue Okay let s ask Shiekh Hassan Young lads, you won t find an answer for this issue in there, FGM has existed forever, there is no problem with it, it is our religion and our culture. This world was ruled by men and they use to make decisions... where are the men now? Have you seen one single man who makes decisions in his home? Men are nothing now, women are now flexing their muscles and ruling the world, therefore religion, culture and the whole world will be lost until this matter is resolved and men are reinstated to their position and women become obedient, nothing will be normal, so don t make yourself busy this issue...(mocking tone) is FGM culture? Is FGM religious? Is it tradition? Why don t you occupy your time with something more beneficial? (Walks out) Where did the old man run away to, what got into him? He and his family is currently faced with a big challenge and anguish and he is telling us that this issue is meaningless and waste of time... is there a bigger problem than FGM which we can discuss today? Let s go my friends.

9 Scene 3 Ali Oh my God! Milgo has gone mad. We made a mistake, we should not have agreed for things to progress this way. Aunty has been detained... they are searching for uncle Alin What do they want with Alin? He was questioned to find out how much of the plan he knew and what role he played in the attempted murder of Hodon Attempted murder...? Mother it is attempted murder... of the worse kind, it is homicide... (Enters Alin) What is homicide... eh, young man you just heard the term homicide.., homicide means mass killing or ethnic cleansing... like we witnessed in Rwanda or Yugoslavia, and here you are trying to say FGM gone wrong is homicide? Alin I think you are confusing homicide and genocide, what happened in Rwanda and Yugoslavia was genocide, however this, which you have inflicted on Hodon is homicide, do you understand? It is the crime of killing someone Firstly do not include me and say what you have done to Hodon, your aunty did it, she is responsible for it whether it is homicide or genocide. (getting angry), How do you figure that you are not partly responsible for this? Are you not the man of the family, I swear to God, between you and Milgo, you should be the one arrested first... I even hear the police is looking for you! The police!.. is looking for me? Maybe you sent them to look for me! We did not send the police, but everyone can see you are the man of the house, people, police and government. Women, I don t have any responsibilities, women forcefully took the decision making role, and when men so much as say a word, you throw us out with all our stuff packed into a black bag, does anyone listen to us, does anyone ask our opinion, you even pretend we don t exist half of the time... what does the police want with me... police know our situation Alin you can t make excuses or deny this problem God made you a man,... get off your backside and think of how you are going to resolve this situation and address this problem...

10 Sh Xasan: Anab, remember you guys rejected my advise earlier,... I told you... We should get a house doctor for the girl... you guys refused... I proposed that you and Milgo put your hagbad money together and we should send the girl to an Arab state...did you guys take either of my suggestions? You followed your own women decision... so we ll see where your decision takes you. If I get arrested now or the police catch me it will be as the result of a women s decision (storms off in anger) (Enters Naima, Ahmed, they greet each other- Naima kisses Anab and Ahmed shake hands) Ali, tell me what is the news? How is aunt s situation progressing? Oh Naima I don t know what to say... just a series of bad luck... How is the girl, what is her condition? Her condition is critical We have caused this upon our own self! I am going to the hospital, see you guys, (Walks out) So, what is the plan now? What are our options? I swear this issue that is facing our community is not something we can ignore and turn a blind eye to, we have to think of a way to end this practice. (Enter Mukhtar and Shikh Hasan) Here is Mukhtar and Shiekh Hasan the Shiekh is here now, he can tell us where the problem stems from... Shiekh, this FGM that has come to define our community, is it a religious practice or a cultural practice? when we find this out, we can deal with this problem. Shiekh, the youngsters would like to have a detailed explanation on this issue... you are probably aware of the situation....a young girl is a patient currently and she is in a serious condition. So Shiekh we would like you to enlighten us? In the name of Allah, All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger, our prophet Mohammed, and upon his companions and his family...firstly I am sadden by the problems that our young sister is currently experiencing, if we are questioning the religious opinion of FGM, we need to firstly separate two things: Male circumcision and the evidence is agreed upon authentic Hadiths, which have been narrated from the prophet. It is a law, a sunnah/ tradition of the prophet which cannot be ignored and there is no dispute regarding it. If we move on to female circumcision, it is not as clear or evident as the male circumcision; there is only one narration, which is a weak narration which addresses female circumcision... That narration indicates that

11 female circumcision is a sunnah, however it is agreed upon that this narration is a weak Hadith, which means that female circumcision can be ignored all together and not practiced since the only Hadith that talks about it is a weak Hadith. So that is that! Moving on to the way Somalis practice female circumcision, that method is one which oppose Islamic ruling and tradition and it has nothing to do with Islam. This method is one which is traced back to ancient cultures and traditions and religion is very much opposed to it. The religion is opposed to everything which harms the person, their body, their mind and psychological well being. Therefore it is unlawful and forbidden and this harmful way Somalis practice female circumcision should be stopped. Everything that harms a Muslim person is not allowed and forbidden. May Allah guide us to right path. Shiekh what did you say!!! Female circumcision is only based on a weak narration!! That is a very surprising discovery! Sh. Xasan: That is how it is, I m sorry I have to go, I was on my way to giving a lecture when Mukhtaar told me that few youngsters had a urgent query and I must see if I can help, so if there are no other questions, I would like to be excused. No Shiekh Hasan, thank you (Sh Hasan leaves) Look at this, when our parents want to practice FGM, they think it is compulsory according to our religion to carry out female circumcision Even you thought it was something which religion compelled us to carry out! Mukhtaar she was not the only one, everyone thinks like that, even look at the phrases they use to describe it the girl needs to be made Halal (Entre Amina, returning from the Hospital ) Amina did you just return from the Hospital? (She looks tired and shaking her head) Yes How is Hodon? She was in ICU, the doctors are trying their best to try and save her. She is in Intensive Care Unit, all this is an enormous risk and gamble which we caused with our hands... How hopeful are they on whether they can save her? Even if she survives, there is no chance that she will be normal again, she will either die or live the rest of her life as a disabled person!

12 Amina, the Shikh told us that FGM is unlawful, and that female circumcision is only based on a single weak narration, and since it is a weak narration, it does not need to be followed A weak narration? Naima what did you say? A weak narration, Hodon is dying because of a weak Hadith! (Looks grieved) I swear to God, it is a shame There is something really big wrong with us Hodon is dying because of a weak Hadith... I cannot believe it... Youngsters... Are we crazy, or empty of any thought process, have we no shame... We, the educated, we, who claim to be modern and yet we have been convinced that some cultural and traditional practice which is harmful and responsible for taking the life of our girls is based on religion. This is not something that could be tolerated, we have failed in our role. This method of female circumcision brings shame on to the culture and tradition of the Somalis, it is a stigma and black spot against the Islamic religion and it is damaging and traumatic for girls, it is unlawful and total forbidden in Islam. Everyone else has progressed and on the 21 st century apart from us. (Enters a crowd of young women and men) Mukhtaar: Guys: Girls: Naima is correct, how it is possible that this type of tradition is going on amongst us, how is it possible that our girls are harmed and damaged as a result of a primitive culture that is not based on anything credible. Who is supporting this practice and who opposes it? Who is pushing this practice? Are men supporting this, are women propagating this practice. Guys speak up, are you guys supporting the continuation of this practice in our community? No... No... No Are the girls happy for our community to become a butcher house for girls? No... Noooooooooo. No! Then what devil is pushing this practice in our community and why won t it stop? I will tell you why this practice will not stop;- it is because of the lack of knowledge and the lack of power and connection of our community which is helping this practice. Look, none of us here support this practice, yet still it is going on, we see its impact and the

13 damage it causes, yet it is still practiced, we can see the people it traumatised and destroyed, yet it is still going on! ALL: Guys: Girls: I will tell you the other reason why this practice still exists, this practice is driven by lack of action, lack of action is the killer, another reason is our disunity, it is another killer, disunity in our purpose...and we are complacent because we kept it hidden. I would recommend that our sister Hodon should be the last victim of this horrendous practice, this is very important Youngsters, should we agree that our sister Hodon should be the last victim of this horrendous practice in our community? Yes, let her be the last victim, no more FGM, No more suffering. There is another problem, there are many people in our community have convinced themselves that FGM is not a big issue. What do you guys think about that? It is a big issue, which needs to be given importance and time. Girls what do you think? It is the number one issue... Number one Amina is correct, our community wants to pretend that FGM is not an issue or that it is not an important issue, however this is not the case, unfortunately for us, our sister Hodon has already suffered as the latest victim, but her case must be a wakeup call for us, we must mobilise and really do something about this issue. Ali is correct, we all share responsibility for what happened to Hodon, we are all responsible because we have been complacent in this practice... We are all complacent with this terrible practice, because we stayed silent, which means we were happy and agreed with this practice, what has Hodon died for? We are all responsible, we are all criminals, we have not made our voices heard loud and clear, that is why Hodon is destroyed, Hodon and many other girls who we know have been faced with this problem.