Fled Norway after threats
Deeyah received University of Oslo's Human Rights Award for her work for womens freedom of expression.
Deeyah is a Norwegian, London-based filmmaker and musician who was forced out of Norway as a teenager by the conservative forces in the Norwegian-Pakistani community. At age 17 she received death threats because she was a musician.
Now she is publishing her second documentary, «Jihad»; where Khan has interviewed men and women who have been involved in radical Islam. The filmmaker has explored the youth perspective on extremism and how young people are radicalized.
Still an Oslo girl
Rector Ole Petter Ottersen’s opening speech, which was clearly affected by Friday's terror attacks in Paris, ended on a positive note:
– Welcome back.
A visibly touched awardee then took to the podium.
– I left Norway at age 17, and have been back several times after that, but I do not think anyone has said welcome back before. Although I now speak English, I'm an Oslo girl at heart, she said.
The winner held a forceful speech that urged the international community to keep together.
– What we have before us today is an invitation from IS. They want us to respond with fear and hatred. If we respond with violence and hostilities it will, of course, feel good, but is it what we really want?
Khan believes that the groups like IS and terrorists like Anders Behring Breivik fear most of all is unity across cultural and national borders.
Radical prevention
The winner pointed out that IS is spending hundreds of hours on every young recruit. They listen and offer a space where the youth can be themselves and speak freely.
– Then it does not help that we answer with an 8-4 job, said Khan, who believes that a social worker alone cannot fill the emptiness a youth in revolt and identity crisis is feeling.
The head of the committee awarding the prize, Inga Bostad, told after the ceremony that Khan won the award for her work for women's freedom of expression and efforts to combat radicalization of youth.
Universitas spent six hours with Deeyah Khan the day after the award ceremony. Read the result in next week's newspaper.
