Hassan Ghani
Encyclopedia
Hassan Ghani, is a Scottish
broadcast journalist and documentary film-maker, based in London
. He has worked in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Gaza, Somalia, Turkey and Egypt during the uprising.
He was on board the international flotilla bound for Gaza in May 2010 which was boarded by the Israel Defense Forces
His earlier news reports from the ship had warned of an impending bloody confrontation, and he reported live as Israeli soldiers boarded the Mavi Marmara Turkish ship.
and studied at the University of Stirling
in Scotland, where his degree course specialised in documentary production.
From June 2006 to January 2009, he was employed as a journalist and documentary film-maker at the Islam Channel
in London, and regularly presented the channel's daily news bulletin. He is currently working as an international correspondent for Press TV
.
His work includes the 2007 documentary The Silent Prisoners filmed in Pakistan, and the 2006 documentary film Miles Beyond.
travelled to Afghanistan
to produce a documentary about female prisoners being held by the United States
military. "In Search of Prisoner 650" was commissioned by Press TV. During the making of the film the two came under fire amid a clash between the Taliban and Afghan police on the road to Ghazni
. The drama was caught on camera and featured in the film. The documentary was broadcast worldwide on Press TV in April 2009, and included in Aljazeera's documentary film festival 2010.
Ghani was Press TV's correspondent on the Viva Palestina
humanitarian aid
convoy
that drove from London
, United Kingdom to Gaza
and sent back regular television news reports along the way. He followed up his coverage with a 50-minute documentary that summarised the journey, broadcast on Press TV in May 2009, as well as a second documentary entitled "Three Uncles go to Gaza" narrated by broadcaster Yvonne Ridley.
In December 2009 and January 2010 he followed this up by travelling with another Viva Palestina convoy to Gaza (again as Press TV correspondent), and has plans to make a further documentary about it.
attacked an international aid flotilla bound for the Gaza Strip
, killing several activists and wounding others.
Later that day his father Haq Ghani spoke at a rally in George Square in Glasgow in protest at the attack.
He was deported to Turkey
.
He talked to BBC Radio Scotlands "Good Morning Scotland" from Turkey, that people:
's 4Talent scheme for its journalism award in the UK, and in October 2008 he was awarded 'Young Scottish Muslim of the Year' by Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond for his work in journalism and documentary. His work 'In Search of Prisoner 650' was included in Aljazeera's documentary film festival 2010.
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
broadcast journalist and documentary film-maker, based in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He has worked in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Gaza, Somalia, Turkey and Egypt during the uprising.
He was on board the international flotilla bound for Gaza in May 2010 which was boarded by the Israel Defense Forces
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
His earlier news reports from the ship had warned of an impending bloody confrontation, and he reported live as Israeli soldiers boarded the Mavi Marmara Turkish ship.
Biography
He grew up in GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and studied at the University of Stirling
University of Stirling
The University of Stirling is a campus university founded by Royal charter in 1967, on the Airthrey Estate in Stirling, Scotland.-History and campus development:...
in Scotland, where his degree course specialised in documentary production.
From June 2006 to January 2009, he was employed as a journalist and documentary film-maker at the Islam Channel
Islam Channel
Islam Channel is a UK-based, free-to-air, English language, Islamic-focused satellite television channel funded by advertising and donations. It was reported in 2008 that UK government research found that 97.3% of Muslims watched the channel...
in London, and regularly presented the channel's daily news bulletin. He is currently working as an international correspondent for Press TV
Press TV
Press TV is a 24-hour English language global news network owned by the Iranian government. Its headquarters are located in Tehran, Iran, with bureaux in Beirut , Damascus , London , Seoul and Washington DC ....
.
His work includes the 2007 documentary The Silent Prisoners filmed in Pakistan, and the 2006 documentary film Miles Beyond.
Recent films
In November 2008 he and British journalist Yvonne RidleyYvonne Ridley
Yvonne Ridley is a British journalist, war correspondent and Respect Party activist best known for her capture by the Taliban and subsequent conversion to Islam after release, her outspoken opposition to Zionism, and her criticism of Western media portrayals of the War on Terror...
travelled to Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
to produce a documentary about female prisoners being held by the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
military. "In Search of Prisoner 650" was commissioned by Press TV. During the making of the film the two came under fire amid a clash between the Taliban and Afghan police on the road to Ghazni
Ghazni
For the Province of Ghazni see Ghazni ProvinceGhazni is a city in central-east Afghanistan with a population of about 141,000 people...
. The drama was caught on camera and featured in the film. The documentary was broadcast worldwide on Press TV in April 2009, and included in Aljazeera's documentary film festival 2010.
Ghani was Press TV's correspondent on the Viva Palestina
Viva Palestina
Viva Palestina is a British-based registered charity which came into being in January 2009 with the initial intention of running a humanitarian aid convoy to the Gaza Strip...
humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid is material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes, typically in response to humanitarian crises including natural disaster and man-made disaster. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity...
convoy
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
that drove from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, United Kingdom to Gaza
Gaza
Gaza , also referred to as Gaza City, is a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip, with a population of about 450,000, making it the largest city in the Palestinian territories.Inhabited since at least the 15th century BC,...
and sent back regular television news reports along the way. He followed up his coverage with a 50-minute documentary that summarised the journey, broadcast on Press TV in May 2009, as well as a second documentary entitled "Three Uncles go to Gaza" narrated by broadcaster Yvonne Ridley.
In December 2009 and January 2010 he followed this up by travelling with another Viva Palestina convoy to Gaza (again as Press TV correspondent), and has plans to make a further documentary about it.
Israeli attack on Gaza aid flotilla
On 31 May 2010 Ghani was involved in the Gaza flotilla, when the Israel Defense ForcesIsrael Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
attacked an international aid flotilla bound for the Gaza Strip
Gaza Strip
thumb|Gaza city skylineThe Gaza Strip lies on the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The Strip borders Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the south, east and north. It is about long, and between 6 and 12 kilometres wide, with a total area of...
, killing several activists and wounding others.
We are being hit by tear gas, stun grenades, we have a navy ship on either side and helicopters overhead.
We are being attacked from every single side and this is in international waters, not in Israeli waters.
Later that day his father Haq Ghani spoke at a rally in George Square in Glasgow in protest at the attack.
He was deported to Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
.
He talked to BBC Radio Scotlands "Good Morning Scotland" from Turkey, that people:
used sticks, chairs, anything to stop these soldiers who were coming down with machine guns and tasers and firing rubber bullets and later on using live ammunition on civilians.
We knew Israel would do some sort of action, but we thought they would perhaps just try to scare us and then allow us through. We didn't expect a ship with 32 different nationalities on board, with aid from 50 different countries on board, would be attacked in such a brutal manner.
Awards and nominations
In 2008 Ghani was one of five nominated by Channel 4Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
's 4Talent scheme for its journalism award in the UK, and in October 2008 he was awarded 'Young Scottish Muslim of the Year' by Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond for his work in journalism and documentary. His work 'In Search of Prisoner 650' was included in Aljazeera's documentary film festival 2010.
External links
- Filmmaker's website
- "Freedom Flotilla on the Way to Gaza", May 29, 2010