The State Is Complicit In Creating Terrorists Like Omar Sheikh
THE WEEK|April 01, 2018

The State Is Complicit In Creating Terrorists Like Omar Sheikh

Barkha Dutt
The State Is Complicit In Creating Terrorists Like Omar Sheikh
 Filmmaker Hansal Mehta and actor Rajkummar Rao are teaming up for their fourth film together, Omerta. Mehta sees the movie—on the life of terrorist Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh— as a “companion piece” to Shahid (2012), for which both Hansal and Rajkummar won national awards. About his preparation for Sheikh’s role, Rajkummar says, “I started watching disturbing videos just to feel angry towards the world.” Edited excerpts:

Hansal, why a film on the life of Omar Sheikh? This is the terrorist who beheaded [journalist] Daniel Pearl. India was forced to release him when IC 814 was hijacked [to Kandahar] in 1999. We know his story. Did you feel you had something new to say about him?

Hansal: I believe some of us knew his story. I think the story needed to be told, and as a personal story—as the journey of this boy. For me, what was most important is the way the state is complicit in creating and harbouring individuals like Omar Sheikh.

Which state? Because, in the movie it clearly refers to Pakistan. Omar is of Pakistani origin from Britain.

Hansal: Yes, I refer to the Pakistani establishment. The ‘deep state’ as you say—the ISI and their patronising of individuals like Omar Sheikh.

What is the ‘omerta’—the silence—that you are trying to break? There are several layers of silence. Silence could be about Islamism, about religious fundamentalism or state-backed terrorism as in the case of Pakistan and Omar Sheikh.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der April 01, 2018-Ausgabe von THE WEEK.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der April 01, 2018-Ausgabe von THE WEEK.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS THE WEEKAlle anzeigen
Stop ruling; start governing
THE WEEK India

Stop ruling; start governing

In every election the voters elect a government.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
June 16, 2024
HEALING THE EARTH
THE WEEK India

HEALING THE EARTH

Land Restoration for a Drought-Resilient Future

time-read
2 Minuten  |
June 16, 2024
Speak of the nawab
THE WEEK India

Speak of the nawab

For Heeramandi's male lead, Taha Shah, the road to success was paved with flops

time-read
4 Minuten  |
June 16, 2024
Northern delights
THE WEEK India

Northern delights

Four Kashmiri fashion labels that want to put the troubled region on the international style map

time-read
5 Minuten  |
June 16, 2024
WOOING THE WAVES
THE WEEK India

WOOING THE WAVES

India is developing strategic ports overseas and is exploring new oceanic trade routes to pursue its growing geopolitical objectives

time-read
6 Minuten  |
June 16, 2024
TIPU, SULTAN!
THE WEEK India

TIPU, SULTAN!

In his first major election after the death of Mulayam Singh Yadav, Akhilesh humbles the BJP and proves he is his own man

time-read
5 Minuten  |
June 16, 2024
A SLEEPER HIT
THE WEEK India

A SLEEPER HIT

Naidu’s stunning victory raises questions about the vote-catching power of welfare schemes

time-read
4 Minuten  |
June 16, 2024
SWEEPING LOSS
THE WEEK India

SWEEPING LOSS

AAP’s disappointing performance has put a question mark on its relevance in the INDIA bloc

time-read
2 Minuten  |
June 16, 2024
INDEPENDENTS' DAY
THE WEEK India

INDEPENDENTS' DAY

The Lok Sabha results in Baramulla and Ladakh reflect a churning among voters

time-read
2 Minuten  |
June 16, 2024
Voters have changed, and we have benefited
THE WEEK India

Voters have changed, and we have benefited

In March 2022, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu asked a quirky question to actor-MP Suresh Gopi, who had come to the Rajya Sabha with a distinctive look.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
June 16, 2024