Secunder Kermani

Secunder Kermani is a British journalist who is the BBC correspondent in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He was previously a reporter on the BBC's flagship current affairs programme Newsnight.[1]

Education

Secunder Kermani graduated with a first class honours degree in History and Spanish from the University of Manchester, and a Master's in TV Journalism from Goldsmiths, University of London.

Career

Kermani began reporting for the BBC's Newsnight programme in 2014. Many of his reports focussed on the growth of the militant group the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), and Western recruits to the organisation. He secured a number of exclusive interviews with members of ISIS including British jihadist Omar Hussain, and Australian suicide bomber Jake Bilardi,[2] as well as with relatives of other ISIS fighters.[3]

In October 2016, it was reported that police from the Thames Valley Police Counter Terrorism department had obtained a court order allowing them to seize Kermani's laptop to view messages between him and a member of ISIS he had interviewed.[4] The case attracted criticism from press freedom campaigners. Editor of Newsnight Ian Katz said he was "concerned that the use of the Terrorism Act to obtain communication between journalists and sources will make it very difficult for reporters to cover this issue of critical public interest."[5]

In February 2018 Secunder Kermani was appointed the BBC's correspondent in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He has interviewed Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai,[6] former Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif, current Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan,[7] the President of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena,[8] and chief negotiator of the Afghan Taliban, Abbas Stanikzai.[9]

Kermani has also been a reporter on an episode of the BBC's flagship documentary strand Panorama,[10] and been a presenter on the BBC Asian Network radio station.[11]

Awards

2016 New York Radio Awards (Gold, Best Documentary, Gold, Best Investigative report) – "ISIS: Young, British and Radicalised” for BBC Radio 1.[12]

2016 Association for International Broadcasting (Radio Current Affairs, Winner) – "ISIS: Young, British and Radicalised” for BBC Radio 1.[13]

2018 Asian Media Awards – Journalist of the Year, finalist.[14]

2018 Human Rights Press Awards (Television & Video, Winner) – BBC "Our World" documentary: “Murder on Campus” investigating the lynching of Pakistani student Mashal Khan who was accused by classmates of having committed blasphemy.[15]

References
  1. "The Newsnight Reporter Finding A Fresh Angle". asian-voice.com.
  2. "Jake Bilardi: The radicalisation of an Australian teen". 12 March 2015 – via bbc.co.uk.
  3. "BBC should be congratulated for documentary that seeks to understand radicalisation". The Independent. 15 November 2015.
  4. "Police used the Terrorism Act to seize a Newsnight journalist's laptop". The Independent. 28 October 2015.
  5. "Editor 'concerned' over laptop seizure". 29 October 2015 – via bbc.co.uk.
  6. "Malala: 'I'm so happy to be home' – BBC News" – via YouTube.
  7. Kermani, Secunder (20 July 2018). "Imran Khan scents victory in Pakistan vote" – via bbc.co.uk.
  8. "IS 'chose Sri Lanka to show they exist'". BBC News.
  9. Yousafzai, Secunder Kermani and Sami (6 February 2019). "Taliban 'not seeking to seize Afghanistan'" – via bbc.co.uk.
  10. "BBC World News – Panorama, Inside Europe's Terror Attacks". BBC.
  11. "BBC Asian Network – Nihal, Secunder Kermani sits in". BBC.
  12. "New York Festivals – 2016 World's Best Radio Programs™ Winners". newyorkfestivals.com.
  13. "AIB announces winners of the 12th annual 'AIBs' awards for factual TV, radio and online productions | AIB". aib.org.uk.
  14. "Asian Media Awards 2018 Finalists". 18 September 2018.
  15. "22nd Human Rights Press Awards winners". 12 May 2018.
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