Free. Happy. Muslim. Women”, Karolina Samborska series’s is exhibited in part of VISA OFF Festival at Caves Maillol in Perpignan (9 cours Palmarole). This work is a contribution to the debate on our Western view of Islam. This work aims to go beyond the news, to show religion in a different light, not as the usual source of terror and slavery of women. These photographs seek to highlight the progressive side of this little-known branch that is Ismailism. At the time of debate on Islam, fundamentalism, the liberal tale of the Ismaili should be an interesting counterpoint.
Roshovr, the village in which Gulguna lives is made up by Ismaili, common throughout the Tajik Pamir. The Ismaili are a progressive branch of Islam,often accused of being heretics . Persecuted for centuries , they found refuge in the mountainous regions of Asia:The Pakistani and Afghani Hindu Kush, Iran, and here in the Tajik Pamir.Khorog, home to 28,000 is one of the biggest Ismaili cities. The rest are scattered in villages in the mountains.Their spiritual leader is the Agha Khan, educated and living in the west. The 49th imam instructs his followers to follow the ways of the present day. He urges people to learn English, as it is considered to be a language of science and to learn to use computers, themselves a tool for learning.Women may or may not cover their heads.To cover their head is not an obligation ,It is more of a tradition imposed by the harsh weather conditions since Pamir is a very hot, very dry and windy territory.
Source: Visa OFF 2015 : Karolina Samborska Free. Happy. Muslim. Women – The Eye of Photography
Ismailimail 