No Burqas Behind Bars (2012)

This 2012 Swedish documentary, directed by Maryam Ebrahimi and Nima Sarvestani, provides an intimate look inside Takhar Prison in Afghanistan, where 40 women and 34 children share four cells. It explores the use of "moral crimes" to control women, such as long sentences for fleeing abusive marriages or homes, often harsher than punishments for murder. Through the prisoners' personal stories, the film contrasts the relative freedom inside prison—without burqas and societal constraints—with the oppression outside, highlighting women's resilience, hopes for the future, and the power hidden beneath traditional veils.