# Secunder Kermani

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{{short description|British journalist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
'''Secunder Kermani''' is a British journalist who is foreign correspondent for [Channel 4 News](/source/Channel_4_News). Kermani is a former [BBC](/source/BBC) correspondent in [Pakistan](/source/Pakistan) and [Afghanistan](/source/Afghanistan). He was previously a reporter on the BBC's flagship [current affairs](/source/Current_affairs_(news_format)) programme ''[Newsnight](/source/Newsnight)''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.asian-voice.com/Opinion/Columnists/Rani-Singh/The-Newsnight-Reporter-Finding-A-Fresh-Angle|title=The Newsnight Reporter Finding A Fresh Angle|website=asian-voice.com}}</ref>

== Education ==
Secunder Kermani was born in [London](/source/London) to British Asian parents. He is the son of the film director [Faris Kermani](/source/Faris_Kermani).<ref name="NS">{{cite news |last1=Burrell |first1=Ian |title=How Secunder Kermani became the face of the BBC's Afghanistan coverage |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/media/2021/09/how-secunder-kermani-became-the-face-of-the-bbcs-afghanistan-coverage |access-date=10 May 2025 |publisher=New Statesman |date=3 September 2021}}</ref> Kermani attended [Dulwich College](/source/Dulwich_College) and then graduated with a [first class](/source/British_undergraduate_degree_classification) [honours degree](/source/Honours_degree) in history and Spanish from the [University of Manchester](/source/University_of_Manchester), and a [masters](/source/Master's_degree) in TV journalism from [Goldsmiths, University of London](/source/Goldsmiths%2C_University_of_London).<ref name=NS/>

== Career ==

Kermani has played a prominent role covering the Israel-Gaza conflict for Channel 4 News, receiving awards for his coverage from the Royal Television Society, Bafta and Emmy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rts.org.uk/article/tv-diary-secunder-kermani-reporting-middle-easttitle=RTS TV Diary|date=2 May 2025}}</ref>

At the BBC, Kermani led coverage of the Taliban's rise to power in Afghanistan in 2021, filming with the insurgents as they fought Afghan government and western forces, and also reporting on the [''Fall of Kabul''](/source/Fall_of_Kabul_(2021)) and the Taliban's first year as rulers of the country.

Kermani began reporting for the BBC's ''[Newsnight](/source/Newsnight)'' programme in 2014. Many of his reports focused on the growth of the militant group the [Islamic State in Iraq and Syria](/source/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](/source/Omar_Hussain), and Australian suicide bomber [Jake Bilardi](/source/Jake_Bilardi),<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-31845428|title=Jake Bilardi: The radicalisation of an Australian teen|work=BBC News |date=12 March 2015|via=bbc.co.uk}}</ref> as well as with relatives of other ISIS fighters.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/bbc-should-be-congratulated-for-documentary-that-seeks-to-understand-radicalisation-a6735361.html|title=BBC should be congratulated for documentary that seeks to understand radicalisation|date=15 November 2015|website=The Independent}}</ref>

In October 2016, it was reported that police from the [Thames Valley Police](/source/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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/police-use-terror-powers-to-seize-bbc-newsnight-journalists-laptop-a6712636.html|title=Police used the Terrorism Act to seize a Newsnight journalist's laptop|date=28 October 2015|website=The Independent}}</ref> The case attracted criticism from [press freedom](/source/Freedom_of_the_press) campaigners. Editor of ''Newsnight'' [Ian Katz](/source/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."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-34666281|title=Editor 'concerned' over laptop seizure|work=BBC News |date=29 October 2015|via=bbc.co.uk}}</ref>

In February 2018 Kermani was appointed the BBC's correspondent in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He has interviewed [Nobel Peace Prize](/source/Nobel_Peace_Prize) winner [Malala Yousafzai](/source/Malala_Yousafzai),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZizGoO9x0yo|title=Malala: 'I'm so happy to be home' – BBC News|date=30 March 2018 |via=YouTube}}</ref> former prime ministers of Pakistan [Nawaz Sharif](/source/Nawaz_Sharif) and [Imran Khan](/source/Imran_Khan).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-44903466|title=Imran Khan scents victory in Pakistan vote|first=Secunder|last=Kermani|work=BBC News |date=20 July 2018|via=bbc.co.uk}}</ref>

Kermani has also been a reporter on an episode of the BBC's flagship documentary strand [''Panorama''](/source/Panorama_(British_TV_programme)),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/n3ct18xj|title=BBC World News – Panorama, Inside Europe's Terror Attacks|website=BBC}}</ref> and been a presenter on the [BBC Asian Network](/source/BBC_Asian_Network) radio station.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07sx8j0|title=BBC Asian Network – Nihal, Secunder Kermani sits in|website=BBC}}</ref>

In 2022, Kermani became the foreign correspondent for Channel 4 News. He is one the few journalists to have reported from inside rebel-held territory in Myanmar,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/inside-the-jungle-resistance-fighting-myanmars-junta-and-winning-dmnb7wfg2|title=Sunday Times inside the jungle resistance|date=2 May 2025}}</ref> and has covered the conflict in the Middle East extensively.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/news-leaders/secunder-kermani-channel-4-gaza-israel/|title=Press Gazette interview|date=2 May 2025}}</ref> Since joining Channel 4 News, he has covered stories in areas including Brazil, Israel and the Palestinian Territories, and Japan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Secunder Kermani, Foreign Affairs Correspondent |url=https://www.channel4.com/news/by/secunder-kermani |access-date=2026-05-12 |website=Channel 4 News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== Awards ==
* 2016 New York Radio Awards (Gold, Best Documentary, Gold, Best Investigative report) – "ISIS: Young, British and Radicalised” for BBC Radio 1.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newyorkfestivals.com/worldsbestradio/2016/pieces.php?pid=1&iid=507127|title=New York Festivals – 2016 World's Best Radio Programs™ Winners|website=newyorkfestivals.com|access-date=26 September 2019|archive-date=30 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030224440/http://www.newyorkfestivals.com/worldsbestradio/2016/pieces.php?pid=1&iid=507127|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 2016 Association for International Broadcasting (Radio Current Affairs, Winner) – "ISIS: Young, British and Radicalised” for BBC Radio 1.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aib.org.uk/aib-announces-winners-of-the-12th-annual-aibs-awards-for-factual-tv-radio-and-online-productions/|title=AIB announces winners of the 12th annual 'AIBs' awards for factual TV, radio and online productions &#124; AIB|website=aib.org.uk}}</ref>
* 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://humanrightspressawards.org/1663.html|title=22nd Human Rights Press Awards winners|date=12 May 2018|access-date=26 September 2019|archive-date=16 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816022532/https://humanrightspressawards.org/1663.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 2021 nominee for a [Peabody Award](/source/Peabody_Award) as a part of the writing and reporter team for the Afghanistan: Documenting A Crucial Year.
* 2024 Royal Television Society, Network Television Journalist of the Year <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rts.org.uk/article/winners-announced-rts-television-journalism-awards-2024 |title=Winners announced for the RTS Television Journalism Awards 2024 |date=28 February 2024 }}</ref>
* 2024 BAFTA, "News Coverage" as part of the Channel 4 News team's award for coverage of the Israel-Gaza conflict<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.channel4.com/programmes/channel-4-news-bafta-winning-programme-2024/on-demand/77017-001|title=Channel 4 bafta winning programme|date=2 May 2025}}</ref>
* 2024 Emmy, "International Emmy for News" as part of the Channel 4 News team's award for coverage of the Israel-Gaza conflict <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.channel4.com/programmes/inside-gaza-2024s-emmy-winning-news-coverage|title=Channel 4 emmy winning coverage|date=2 May 2025}}</ref>
* 2025 BAFTA, "News Coverage" as part of the Channel 4 News team's award for coverage of the Israel-Iran conflict – "Israel-Iran: The Twelve Day War"<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-05-10 |title=Bafta Television Awards 2026: The winners list in full |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy52ep161z2o |access-date=2026-05-12 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kermani, Secunder}}
Category:Living people
Category:Alumni of Goldsmiths, University of London
Category:Alumni of the University of Manchester
Category:BBC newsreaders and journalists
Category:British expatriates in Pakistan
Category:English people of Pakistani descent
Category:People educated at Dulwich College
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Secunder Kermani](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secunder_Kermani) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secunder_Kermani?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.