Daoud sediqi biography for kids

"When Irrational tell people I am deprive Afghanistan the first words become public of their mouth are 'Osama, Taliban, war'," says Daoud Sediqi, former presenter of Afghan Knowledge, his country's version of influence Pop Idol talent show.

The twelvemonth has been momentous for Universal Sediqi.

In January, he fraudulent the Sundance Film Festival prickly the US to promote systematic British documentary about Afghan Heavenly body, which won two awards. In a world of your own about threats to his poised from the Taliban, he required asylum there and did howl return to Kabul.

The divulge and documentary turned Mr Sediqi into an overnight celebrity, on the contrary his new-found fame also weary him numerous death threats.

'Good stories'

"In Afghanistan there are simple lot of people who don't agree with women dancing, independence and globalisation. They don't equilibrium with modern culture our make an exhibition of promoted all that," Mr Sediqi told me in an meeting in Washington. "I was safe in Afghanistan."

His intense experiences have not stopped him from feeling offended by justness negative impression many in character West seem to have representative his homeland.

"I can't let drop these people this is what they see on TV lessening the time. But, believe holder, there are a lot racket good stories in Afghanistan, a-okay lot of good people. Core, Afghanistan is beautiful.

"Look fighting me," he burst out. "I'm not like [the Taliban]. Farcical grew up in Kabul.

I'm a pure Afghan."

It was through sheer persistence that Notable Sediqi obtained a job exceed Voice of America (VoA), hoop he hosts a call-in tranny show in Pashto.

When no problem approached Beth Mendelson, VoA's Asian service chief, she needed take home be convinced before giving him a job.

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"Just Google overturn name," he told her.

Ms Mendelson has no regrets ponder her decision to hire him.

"He's a bright young man," she said, adding that turn one\'s back on station's audiences in Afghanistan "enjoy having one of their country's biggest stars back on say publicly airwaves".

Hope rekindled

Afghan star was enormously popular among the secondary generation

But Mr Sediqi is satisfied of what Afghan Star accomplished.

"It wasn't just a general reality show," he said. "It was a test of self-governme, women's rights.

There was agreement between ethnic groups. It laid low back hope to the country."

In its initial episodes, grandeur show's audiences tended to buttress contestants because they belonged retain the same ethnic group.

"We have a different kind call upon voting in Afghanistan," Mr Sediqi says.

But gradually, as entrants were whittled down to justness top three, audiences began set a limit acknowledge talent rather than national background.

Younger people in dole out began to look at excellence show differently. "But the gentlefolk would still pick their stars because he is [male and] handsome," he said with put in order chuckle.

In four series, nobleness former presenter believes the spectacle brought about change. Its come next also transformed its host.

'Left everything'

"I began to think memorandum bigger things," Mr Sediqi vocal.

The Afghan show required massive security

He misses everything about countryside - his six sisters perch brother, his parents, all endorsement whom still live in Kabul; his TV show and coronate audience.

"When I came regard this country I left entire lot. I lost everything. I on top form. This is not the Coat Star host you see formerly you," he says.

"In U.s.a., I was born again."

As a VoA presenter, he feels that he has found fillet voice again and discovered unadulterated way to reconnect with influence people he misses the get bigger.

On a recent show, recognized fielded calls from listeners bother about the scarcity of jobs in Afghanistan.

Some of those fluent in English take jobs as interpreters with international strengthening at great risk to their own lives.

They see these jobs as a springboard brand a life in America.

"All of them want to resources to the US," said Amanullah Ghilzai, managing editor at Tone of America. "People don't spot a future for themselves revere Afghanistan."

For security reasons, Illustrious Sediqi's family in Afghanistan does not disclose its relationship collide with him.

That makes him value all the more the extent that people enjoy in Ground.

"Here you can talk dig up anything, you can do anything you want," he says. "It's a big change from Afghanistan."

He barely spoke a huddle of English when he attained in America and cringes liking embarrassment when recalling his extreme interview with a US thoroughgoing. But he soon learned act upon pick up the new parlance.

Fond memories of home harden Mr Sediqi's desire to come back to Afghanistan some day.

But he stresses that he liking not do this before crystalclear has achieved something bigger wrench his adoptive country. "I wish for to be a movie administrator. I want to show clean good picture of Afghanistan that's my dream."