Adil Najam and Faris Isam
ATP had first written about Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy back in January 2007 when the Toronto Star had named her as “Toronto’s Top 10 to Watch.” We had ended that post with the words, “Congratulations, Sharmeen… ATP will also be watching you in 2007 and beyond!” We have been doing exactly that. And we are delighted to report that Sharmeen has just won an Emmy Award for her gripping Frontline Documentary, “Pakistan: Children of the Taliban.“
Congratulations, again, Sharmeen.
Amidst a sea of bad news and pessimism, the news of Sharmeen’s Emmy has come as a very welcome breeze of freshness. This is hardly the first milestone of Obaid-Chinoy’s career, as the journalist and filmmaker is also a TED Fellow and the first non-American winner of the Livingston Award for Young Journalists. (Watch Sharmeen’s Emmy winning documentary here).
Her documentary – which has only played to limited audiences in Pakistan because of security concerns – explores Taliban recruitment strategies, their effect on the youth and their methods to radicalize the country’s young and often dejected populace. (Visit Sharmeen’s website with details of this and other documentaries by her, here; watch Children of the Taliban, here).
But Sharmeen’s achievement also comes as a moment of grave personal loss and challenge for Sharmeen. TeethMaestro reports the details on his blog:
In a very touching moment, the day before, her father died of cancer in the UK where he was undergoing chemotherapy. Her message following the news of the death of her father on Facebook, posted practically 10 hours before the Emmy award ceremony, where she was in attendance, read “Only the good die young- you always said aba…love you” and later following the victory she dedicated her Emmy to her father by saying “Tonight’s Emmy win is dedicated to you aba…”
We are moved by Sharmeen achievement, but even more by her loss. Our condolences to her at her father’s loss. We are sure her father was immensely proud of her. And we are proud of her too.
Our prayers are with you and your family in this time of loss. And our fond wishes to you for your achievement. As we had promised back in 2007, we will keep watching you and your work!
Thank you, Sharmeen.
@N: Very simple, liberals like Adil are on payroll of US and are fed by them. How could Adil speak against US and its policy while living in US and enjoying the things?
you are outraged over side issues.
Wow! AamirAli seems a clone of Asif Ali Zardari who said to American that killing of Pakistanis due to drones does not bother him. WHo knows he is another Jiyala who considers his leader more than a God? Amir Ali makes me to imagine how “Kalay ANgraiz” of British Raj times would be used to kiss up Angraiz of that time to fulfill their wishes.
Actually people like Aamir and Adil don’t care of suicide killings either. PPls killed in drones and suicidal attacks are Pakistanis so how can one mourn for one kind of Pakistanis while not others? It’s all about Money,N, rest doesn’t matter at all
As far as Sharmeen is concerned, people like Sharmeen and Nadeem Paracha should be thankful of Talibans and Mullahs, because their “Daal Roti” is dependent on their enemies. How could Sharmeen win even a local award in the absence of Talibans? As we see tradition, the more you write against Islam or anyone who “looks” against modern Muslim, more you would be awarded.
I bet Sharmeen could not get a penny if she would have made movie against India’s violence against Kashmir or Israel’s brutal violence against Palenstinians. Sharmeen is clever, she knows who’s gonna feed her. How could she strike the axe on her own feet? :-)
Great to read about the award. Very well deserved.
Sorry to hear about Sharmeen’s father. Allah aap ko sabar dey.
Excellent. Good news. I hope people can see this documentary. It is worth seeing.
I saw the documentary when it was first shown on Frontline and thinking that it was very very good and deserved an award. I am glad the Emmy folks had the same view.
COngrats.
It is nice to write about her but I wonder how repeated drone attacks have escaped your attention, particularly the latest one targeting army post. The drone attacks have become a way of death not only for civilians but now also for military men in Pakistan. And these attacks not only target militants’ hideouts, these also rocket Pakistan’s military posts. The military which is sacrificing so that Toms, Dicks and Harries and their offspring in the land of milk and honey remain safe, is now target of the fury of all these Toms, Dicks and Harries. And still they ask; “why Pakistanis hate us in spite of our aid?” It is apparent that the American public is largely unaware of the easy-going attitude of American establishment which causes death and destruction elsewhere. But those who know do not like it. The question, however, remains; will the establishment of the US care unless the people of Pakistan practically demonstrate how much they dislike foreign elements threatening their security, and these foreign element include not only Arab, Uzbek and African fighters, these also include Americans of the Black-water variety and those sitting in Washington DC ordering drone attacks. The war in Afghanistan is almost over and so is American hegemony in this unipolar world. Someone somewhere is writing a New world Order yet again. Read more at: http://fmeducation.blogspot.com/2010/10/killing-fo r-cause-or-in-sheer.html