圣书的影子

Why are some of the world's biggest international companies translating an absurd foreign book into their own language, trying to hide their aims and avoid discussion about the human rights and freedom of speech situation in Turkmenistan? Shadow Of The Holy Book investigates the morality of international companies and the dictatorship of oil-and-gas-rich Turkmenistan. These companies help give the dictatorship the propaganda support that it needs to survive. Turkmenistan’s dictator, Saparmurat Niyazov, has written a ludicrous book: the Ruhnama, the Book of the Soul, a key tool in the government’s subjugation of human rights and free speech. Yet many international companies give their clandestine support to the Ruhnama and help suppress the country’s voices of opposition and dissidence – in return for multimillion- dollar business deals. The film follows lawyer/author Kevin Frazier and film director Arto Halonen as they travel from Europe to Turkmenistan, and all the way to the United States. The filmmakers are in search of companies operating in Turkmenistan, particularly the companies that have translated the Ruhnama books into their own languages, and thus supported Turkmenistan's dictatorship in the most absurd way possible. The film also reflects the current situation in Turkmenistan, the impact of the Ruhnama book, and the ethics of the companies operating there. This is done through the dissidents and refugees, many of whom have been the targets of persecution, torture, and assassination attempts organised by the Turkmenistan government. Turkmenistan has some of the biggest oil-and-gas reserves in the world, and this has increased the greed and ruthlessness of corporate activities in the region. Well-known companies like DaimlerChrysler, Siemens, Bouygues and Caterpillar praise and support the Ruhnama book, a book that has destroyed the education system and has served as the centerpiece of the dictatorship. The filmmakers look for corporate responsibility, and the companies duck and hide – until a couple of business executives appear who are ready to talk and take responsibility. The film is the story of a dictatorship, and also of the transition from one leader to the next. After the sudden death of Saparmurat Niyazov, the creator of the Ruhnama book, power has transferred to Gurbanguly Berdymuhammedov who has, on the surface, made reforms but in terms of violations against freedom of speech and human rights everything has remained the same. He has also praised the Ruhnama, and used it to increase his power. Therefore international corporations continue to use the same techniques to please the new leader as they did with Niyazov. The shadow of the holy book continues to stretch beyond Niyazov’s grave.