Deeyah goodwill ambassador for UN

Deeyah Khan.Photo: Berit Roald / NTB scanpix

The Norwegian human rights activist, film director and record producer Deeyah Khan  (39) has been appointed goodwill ambassador for the United Nations.

It is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, which is behind the appointment.

I congratulate deeyah with this important appointment.

Many people around the world today are subjected to restrictions on their artistic freedom of expression and are censored, denounced, persecuted and killed.

Deeyah is a clear vote for a demanding and highly relevant topic, and I am convinced that she will do an outstanding job as UN goodwill ambassador, said Minister Torbjørn Røe Isaksen.

Deeyah should especially promote artistic expression and creativity.
In 2015 she received the Khan Culture Ministry Human Rights Award for her documentary “Jihad: A Story of the Others.”

– Deeyah is a brave artist. She helps to promote respect for fundamental human rights by emphasizing that society must be tolerant of what is different.

Deeyah will be a great goodwill ambassador for UNESCO, said Culture Minister Linda Hofstad Helleland.

Khan was born in Oslo in 1977 and broke through as an artist under the name Deepika and released her first solo album at age 15. She later left Oslo for London, where she has lived since.

 

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today