Student affairs play shines light on ‘honor killings,’ gender discrimination

The Deanship of Student Affairs at Birzeit University organized the performance of a play that criticizes the so-called “honor killings” on Tuesday, July 30, 2019, as part of the upcoming Birzeit Nights Festival. 

The interactive play − written and directed by Mirna Sakhleh from Al-Harah Theatre, Bethlehem − took the students into the funeral of a victim of an honor killing. The audience learned about her life from actors who posed as her friends, classmates, and family members. 

As part of the play, the attending students engaged with the actors in a candid discussion of the rights of women in Palestine, covering gender discrimination and equality in Palestinian laws. 

The Birzeit Nights Festival (Layali Birzeit) is an annual series of performances, concerts, and events that celebrate the culture and heritage of Palestine. Held since 1984, the festival includes musical performances and art shows, presented by local dance troupes and artists, to celebrate Palestinian collective identity and culture.