A Request from Irshad Manji

 This morning I received an e-mail from Irshad Manji, the author of a remarkable book, The Trouble with Islam Today.

Here’s what she had to say:

Dear friends,

Over the past five years, we’ve developed a shared mission. Whether or not you’ve signed up for this newsletter, you’re receiving it now because I can’t hold back about something.

First, I’m starting to write my next book this summer! Frankly, though, there’s a bigger point to this letter. I have to tell you about a new film that has moved me beyond words. 

“The Stoning of Soraya M.” is banned in Iran, just released in America, and soon to be distributed in the Middle East. Based on a true story, it portrays a young Iranian mother who’s framed by her husband and stoned to death by her village.

Among the mob is one voice of moral courage: Soraya’s aunt, Zahra, played by award-winning Iranian actress Shohreh Aghdashloo (co-star of “House of Sand and Fog”). A faithful Muslim, Zahra speaks truth to power and tries to stop the stoning. She fails.

But Zahra does something at the end of the film that affirms a timeless lesson for all people of conscience — whatever we’re powerless to change at this moment, we can choose to use our voices for longer-term impact. Isn’t that what Iran’s brave demonstrators are proving?

“The Stoning of Soraya M.” has now opened in select theaters throughout the US. Its box office success in the coming days will determine its future. Please support Soraya by going to see it. Where? I’ll explain in a minute.

So gripping and gorgeously produced is this film, so universally urgent are the issues it raises, that I’m doing something more than watching it. 

My leadership program, the Moral Courage Project, has just launched a human rights campaign inspired by the memory of Soraya and the voice of Zahra. Come to our brand new website, www.moralcourage.com, and join the movement to end the heinous cultural ritual of stoning.

On moralcourage.com, you’ll see three zones:

* “Discover” why the Moral Courage Project exists;

* “Learn” about the human rights issues that are driving our summer-long Soraya campaign;

* “Engage” in conversations about how to support human rights activists in Iran and elsewhere.

My moral courage team is already blogging. So am I — take a look at my reply to a commentator who ripped the film apart. Right underneath my reply, you can submit comments of your own. That’s the case with all posts on moralcourage.com. Please respond to our ideas and, better still, add yours.

Throughout July and August, we’ll arrange online discussions with the film’s director, producers, and yes, even its stars.

TheDailyBeast.com, a popular news site in America, is amplifying our campaign. When you engage with the moral courage team, you’ll be giving us content to post on The Daily Beast, too.  So please be honest, un-scripted, and real. Moral courage celebrates your freedom as much as Soraya’s.

To ensure that everybody’s included, especially if you live outside the US, the director is allowing us (and only us) to post additional film clips.  Watch them exclusively on moralcourage.com.

Which brings me back to the full movie. Where can you catch it? The list of US cities and theaters is also on moralcourage.com.

Finally, if you love the spirit of all faiths but oppose the abuse of power, please spread the word about this film and the moral courage campaign through your social networks. As our Iranian heroine, Zahra, proclaims: “The world must know!” 

With the buzz already starting about Shohreh’s Oscar-worthy performance, the world will know.

Here’s to a meaningful summer.

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