Faces Of Women Tragically Scarred From Acid Attacks By Men
‘Domestic Violence’ is a shocking photo series by photographer Emilio Morenatti, in which he seeks out and captures the portraits of women who have been scarred and disfigured from acid attacks by men.
His subjects are predominantly from Pakistan and were attacked by men for various reasons. Some of them were attacked for rejecting marriages, while others were due to family disputes.
Despite the horrendous attacks—which have left some blind and horribly disfigured—many of them choose to not report the incident out of fear of retribution from their community and families.
Through his photo series, Morenatti not only wants to highlight these heinous crimes, but also to empower these women to stand united and force the world to take notice and action.
Irum Saeed, 30, poses for a photograph at her office at the Urdu University of Islamabad, Pakistan, Thursday, July 24, 2008. Irum was burnt on her face, back and shoulders twelve years ago when a boy whom she rejected for marriage threw acid on her in the middle of the street. She has undergone plastic surgery 25 times to try to recover from her scars. Photo/Emilio Morenatti
Bushra Shari, 39, adjusts her veil as she poses for a photograph in Lahore, Pakistan, Friday, July. 11, 2008. Bushra was burnt with acid thrown by her husband as she was trying to get divorced from him five years ago. She has undergone plastic surgery 25 times to try to recover from her scars. Photo/Emilio Morenatti
Shahnaz Bibi, 35, poses for a photograph in Lahore, Pakistan, Sunday, Oct.26, 2008. Ten years ago Shahnaz was burnt with acid by a relative due to a familiar dispute. She has never undergone plastic surgery. Photo/Emilio Morenatti
Najaf Sultana, 16, poses for a photograph at her home in Lahore, Pakistan Wednesday, July 9, 2008. At the age of five Najaf was burnt by her father while she was sleeping, apparently because he didn’t want to have another girl in the family. As a result of the burning Najaf became blind and after being abandoned by both her parents she now lives with relatives. She has undergone plastic surgery around 15 times to try to recover from her scars. Photo/Emilio Morenatti
Zainab Bibi, 17, adjusts her veil as she poses for a photograph in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008. Zainab was burnt on her face with acid thrown by a boy whom she rejected for marriage five years ago. She has undergone plastic surgery several times to try to recover from her scars. Photo/Emilio Morenatti
Shameem Akhter, 18, poses for a photograph at her home in Jhang, Pakistan, Wednesday, July 10, 2008. Shameem was raped by three boys who then threw acid on her three years ago. Shameem has undergone plastic surgery 10 times to try to recover from her scars. Photo/Emilio Morenatti
Naila Farhat, 19, poses for a photograph in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008. Naila was burnt on her face with acid thrown by a boy whom she rejected for marriage five years ago. She has undergone plastic surgery several times to try to recover from her scars. Photo/Emilio Morenatti
Memuna Khan, 21, poses for a photograph in Karachi, Pakistan, Friday, Dec. 19, 2008. Menuna was burnt by a group of boys who threw acid on her to settle a dispute between their family and Menuna’s. She has undergone plastic surgery 21 times to try to recover from her scars. Photo/Emilio Morenatti
Munira Asef, 23, poses for a photograph in Lahore, Pakistan, Sunday, Oct.26, 2008. Munira was burnt with acid five years ago by a boy whom she rejected for marriage. She has undergone plastic surgery 7 times to try to recover from her scars. Photo/Emilio Morenatti
Kanwal Kayum, 26, adjusts her veil as she poses for a photograph in Lahore, Pakistan, Sunday, Oct.26, 2008. Kanwal was burnt with acid one year ago by a boy whom she rejected for marriage. She has never undergone plastic surgery. Photo/Emilio Morenatti
Shehnaz Usman, 36, poses for a photograph in Lahore, Pakistan, Sunday, Oct.26, 2008. Shehnaz was burnt with acid by a relative due to a familiar dispute five years ago. Shehnaz has undergone plastic surgery 10 times to try to recover from her scars Photo/Emilio Morenatti
Saira Liaqat, 26, poses for the camera as she holds a portrait of herself before being burnt, at her home in Lahore, Pakistan, Wednesday, July 9, 2008. When she was fifteen, Saira was married to a relative who would later attack her with acid after insistently demanding her to live with him, although the families had agreed she wouldn’t join him until she finished school. Saira has undergone plastic surgery 9 times to try to recover from her scars. Photo/Emilio Morenatti
All images © Emilio Morenatti
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