ISLAMABAD: Two-time Academy Award winner Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s SOC Films has announced the launch of its latest campaign, “Facets of Hate Speech,” a YouTube series of five films that aim to spark a “new dialogue” around hate speech in Pakistan, with the first movie releasing today, Monday. 

The films feature activists, experts, and officials commenting on issues like cyber harassment, the backlash against Pakistan’s women’s rights movement and blasphemy laws, among other issues. 

“This campaign is a crucial step in confronting the grave threat of hate speech which has deeply woven itself into the fabric of Pakistani society— an alarming reality that challenges the future we envision for our country,” Obaid-Chinoy said in a statement.

“Hate speech fuels intolerance, discrimination, and violence. It silences dissent, undermines human rights, and jeopardizes the very foundation of a just and equitable society. Through this series, we aim to give voice to the victims of hate speech, amplify the voices of those working tirelessly to combat it, and inspire action for a more inclusive, and tolerant Pakistan.”

The first film in the series, releasing on Jan. 13, will delve into the rise of cyber harassment in Pakistan, focusing on its “devastating impact” on women and the urgent need for stronger legal protections and increased online safety measures.

Another film will examine the backlash faced by the Aurat March, a powerful women’s rights movement in Pakistan. The film will be released on Jan. 14. 

A third film will shed light on the “perilous landscape” surrounding blasphemy laws in Pakistan, focusing on the tragic case of Rashid Rehman, a lawyer murdered for defending an individual accused of blasphemy. 

“It explores the immense personal, legal, and societal challenges faced by defense lawyers in such sensitive cases and highlights the urgent need for reforms to protect human rights defenders,” the SOC press release said, saying the film would be out on Jan. 15. 

The last two films, releasing on Jan. 16 and 17 respectively, will focus on hate speech directed at the country’s transgender community and the “disturbing phenomenon of mob violence” in Pakistan.

“It delves into the tragic case of Priyantha Kumara, a Sri Lankan factory manager who was brutally lynched by a mob in Sialkot, and explore the root causes of this horrific incident, including the role of hate speech in inciting violence,” SOC said about the last film in the series.

Obaid-Chinoy is best known for winning an Oscar, Pakistan’s first, for her 2012 documentary ‘Saving Face,’ which focused on survivors of acid violence. In 2016, ‘A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness,’ won Obaid-Chinoy a second Oscar for Best Documentary, Short Subject , at the 88th Academy Awards. 

In April 2023, Disney officially announced during the Star Wars Celebration convention that Obaid-Chinoy would direct the next film in the series, set 15 years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker, and with Daisy Ridley back as Rey.
 

KARACHI: An emerging fintech operator in the Middle East and Pakistan, Abhi, announced on Monday it has partnered with UAE’s Al Ansari Financial Services to provide financial solutions to banked and unbanked communities in the UAE. 

Abhi is a Pakistani fintech company that provides employers an opportunity to withdraw their earned salary any day through its Earned Wage Access (EWA) facility and other products. Founded in 2021, Abhi has been serving customers in Pakistan, UAE and Bangladesh through its credit-bridging products. 

Al Ansari Financial Services is a UAE-based financial services ecosystem that enables the mobility of money locally and globally. For almost 60 years, the group says it has enabled tourists, residents and businesses to transfer and exchange money and conduct payments effectively.

“In a move set to reshape the financial landscape, Al Ansari Financial Services one of the leading integrated financial services groups in the UAE announces its strategic partnership with Abhi Middle East Limited, the region’s largest embedded finance platform backed by Hub71 and Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), to broaden the spectrum of financial solutions available to consumers, ensuring a seamless service experience across the board,” Abhi said in a statement. 

The alliance will provide EWA and Send Now, Pay Later (SNPL) services to complement Al Ansari Financial Services’ existing portfolio from the second quarter of this year, Abhi said. The alliance will help address the varied needs of both unbanked and underbanked communities in the UAE, it added. 

The statement said that the solutions would be gradually introduced across multiple platforms to ensure easy and convenient access for customers, allowing for a smooth integration and enhanced user experience of the financial services.

“Abhi, a pioneer in earned wage access and technology-driven financial solutions, will be providing a technology platform and operational framework that will enable Al Ansari Financial Services’ customers to access their earned wages prior to the scheduled payroll date, in addition to allowing the unbanked and underbanked customers to remit funds internationally instantly while deferring payment,” Abhi said. 

It said Al Ansari will identify eligible customers for both services. 

“This partnership aligns with our ongoing mission to enhance financial accessibility and provide flexible solutions that cater to diverse financial needs,” Mohammad Bitar, group deputy CEO of Al Ansari Financial Services, said in a statement. 

Omair Ansari, co-founder and CEO of Abhi Middle East Limited, said the partnership is a “significant step” in providing unbanked individuals with flexible financial solutions. 

“Through the introduction of Earned Wage Access and Send Now, Pay Later in the UAE, we aim to address real-world financial challenges, offering tools that empower individuals to take control of their finances,” Ansari said.