Steve McCurry discusses Sharbat Gula's case

Renowned photographer Steve McCurry talks to Al Jazeera about his 1984 photograph of Sharbat Gula, which captivated global attention. An Afghan refugee who lived in Pakistan for all her adult life, Gula was arrested this week by Pakistani police for allegedly using a fake identity card.
The iconic photo was taken at a refugee camp in the 1980s.
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[@EliteXtasy]

Am I the only one who thinks the photographer and the company he shot for shouldn't have the sole copyright to the someone else's face? Surely she should be given some kind of payment if money was generated from printing her face?

[@MsSilkworms]

He did stage this photograph, he coerced her to remove her veil to uncover her face. He scared that little girl to pose for a strange man, which was in contradiction to her culture and religion. While he benefitted from her image, she has gotten nothing in return but shame.

[@jayrich2744]

Steve you are responsible for safety of this woman and her entire family you better get her out of this mess that u put her into u are here enjoying the millions that u made off of her while she's suffering in Pakistan jail !!! Do u know

[@bozzwick]

2:38 Also… She was in for 15 days, got deported to where she’s actually a citizen and they treated her and her kids like celebrities and fully funded their healthcare and education. She said she has become proud of the photo even of she wasn’t at first. Relax lol

[@armanarmani7598]

america must give her the protection bcoz of this pic she leave her country and live in afghanistan she must be have the nationality of america or uk

[@imrannazir6931]

I wouldn’t be surprise if this is simply a case of a corrupt official trying to shake her down for money.

[@MissJ000]

He made money off of her and didn’t share his earnings or help her.

[@sarahrazdan2044]

they did this out of jealousy😔

[@ThePeacevision]

yeah Pakistan didn't mind Usama Bin Ladin Mula Umar. and others living in Pakistan. all of a sudden Sharbat Gula is a big threat to this devil country.

[@marina33577]

Hi We have opened this petition and I desperately need your support. please sign and share this petition to unite her with her children. I urge you all to sign this petition to release the ‘ambassador of grief and trauma'. McCurry states “Sharbat Gula has been the symbol of refugees for decades. Now she has become the face of unwanted migrant” She does not just represent herself. But she represents all the refugees, mothers, women and men that are diaspora due to war or other political conflicts in their home countries. Please take a notice and restore hope in humanity .www.change.org/p/pakistan-government-justice-for-sharbat-gula-the-afghan-girl?recruiter=405264076& Thanks!

[@marina33577]

Abs Khan The Pakistani government knew about him very well. The pakistani government provided him with a good security.they know about many terrorists group right now. But they don't say anything to them.

[@marina33577]

Where was he killed? Who killed him? He was found in Pakistan and killed by the Americans not Pakistan. Pakistan is a home to most terrorists and it is a training centre for terrorism activities. If you want evidence do let me know.

[@baiderhater1299]

ThePeacevision correction: Osama snuck in Pakistan and hid In the phaar (mountains) the Pakistani government search for him too. My uncle was posted military in the phaar to find Osama.

[@antoninodepaduanascimentof7996]

No! Devilish country are the United States of America that live by expelling the poorest, robbing their riches, plundering other peoples, sleeping peace!

[@elfonero1492]

McCurry is one of the best photographers with Salgado for me

[@patriciavarela5076]

That is so sad. THIS COUNTRY IS EVIL😭😭😪

[@tiago5339]

USA?

[@jayrich2744]

You put her face out there for the world to see andcas a Muslim woman that's very dangerous for her and her life!!! Now that she's a widow and famous Pakistan is trying to take advantage of this situation and and make money off of her !!! So

[@FarahAbdul]

Jay Rich. what happened to her husband

[@priyankatiwariii2380]

maalintii Burco duuray he died of hepatitis c

[@jamesliston5693]

I have seen she picture but never thought is an afgan woman wow she is beautiful

[@Queen-og7zv]

Afghanistan my heart 🖤❤💚

[@bethanycook8124]

She should be allowed to imigrate to somewhere else....either England or America

[@jayrich2744]

Steve u can't sit there and let this woman suffer anymore then she already has !!! Get her out!!!

[@bozzwick]

2:38 you couldn’t even pay attention for more than 2 1/2 mins huh? Lol

[@LiaqatMajor]

Pakistan should seek and give honorably citizenship to international celebrity sharbat Gullah. Not just she is a soft image but also on humanitarian ground. If Pakistan's law can set free Raymond Davis then whats wrong with this broken life lady ? If world's criminals like Osama bin Ladin, Mullah Mansoor, Mullah Fazlullah can live in Pakistan why not Sharbat Gullah ? We cry about Donald Trump but ignore when we are deporting all good Afghans who have spend more than 30 years here...! Just because the aid on their names has been stop ? All kids born in Pakistan should be given Pakistani citizenship & their parents path to citizenship. Sending people back to war-zone is inhumane.

[@shahidmumtaz9041]

Pakistani Government should give her nationality. I can,not understand why the current government is so strict towards innocent people. If a family was born in your country, living in your country, love your country then why you are so cruel and strict. Please give them Nationality although do your satisfaction for every view and measure, but please be kind. The Punishment of this woman and all other poor Afghans and other national is in appropriate. What do you say about Pakistanies who went and going to UK USA Germany, and France if the respective governments do the same with our children and families...? If we will accept them, they will think for our country, its development and prosperity. These are also the Family of Allah, Created by Allah. Rehem Please. Please change the policies.

[@jhoannajimenea2953]

What a shame for this Steve and NG who made a big profit out of her pictures.

[@bozzwick]

What are you going to do about it?

[@MmahamRroblox]

The crazy thing is they made a lot of money with that picture and she didnt get a dime from it they didnt help her in any way so sad it was pure entertainment the girl with the green eyes thats it. If people actually cared about her, she wouldnt be in this situation.

[@sisterdiggins]

Why is Steve McCurry speaking about her troubles when it was his photograph that pet her in this position ?

[@edurnelopez5431]

Que pena, no entiendo el idioma hablen Español, es una historia maravillosa ,aunque muy triste desde ARGENTINA ,suerte

[@jayrich2744]

Sharab Gul became an American the day that I stool her dignity and unveiled her Steve!!! U have to bring her to America !!!! Bc if anything happens to her in Pakistan jail prepare for nightmares I mean how could u live with yourself knowing that this is what u did to an innocent human being!!!!

[@rochellewilliams2932]

Surely Steve McCurry can give her compensation for her pictures, since he made a lot of money using her face.

[@jayrich2744]

Steve you got her into this mess please get her out of this mess you are responsible for her and her family her entire family her children her parents whom ever that she's been living with or around these years you need to get them all out of there and into America that's only fair !!! Don't say tgat

[@nugrahmaindonesa8138]

what's the name if the presenter?

[@MQurashi556]

She had bad luck because nearly every refugee i.e afghan Refugee have National identity cards 😢😢😢

[@jayrich2744]

Steve this is for you!!! She's in this mess because of you! You took her picture without her knowledge or even approval!! At that age she didn't even know that taking picture of a Muslim woman forbidden even if she agreed to be photographed! She probably didn't even know what taking photo of her meant !!! U became this major famous photographer due to this image due to her beauty that I took illegally if this would've happened here in our country the famous American you would been sued and arrested if u would've taken a pic of let say Angelina Joeli !!! What I'm trying to say is that

[@Dreamzzgirl]

Jay Rich the photographer and National Geographic made a million by making a documentary about her life and they sold many copies of her image. Ashraf Ghani the president of Afghanistan got her out of Pakistan and they have given her a free home

[@77kromah]

I don't think you should blame Steve for taking a picture of here. You should blame the backward religion.

[@a_glacial_death_]

@@77kromah You are merely showing that many atheists are very close-minded like you. You are basically justifying the infiltration of one's personal values. She decides to follow her own religion and culture. How would you feel if someone tries to dictate your life and tries to use your disobedience as an excuse to justify that type of oppression upon you?

[@osiasnocum5855]

Does she have a daughter with EYES like her..??.and face like her..??

[@jayrich2744]

Too bad I'm using someone else's phone and I've got to go otherwise I've got a lot more to say to u Steve !!!!

[@iqbaljan6378]

Ihate Pakistan

[@footballlovers7664]

This woman should've been a milionaire because of this picture. she shouldnt be living in povrety. what the herck!!!

[@maxamedcade7813]

she is more beauty full woow

[@MultiBasra]

Go Nawaz Go

[@irfanjessani7174]

Pakistan zindabad 🇵🇰

[@Kim_gs1206]

Technically this man has caused nothing but trouble for her. He's lying about how it came about, she didn't want to have the pic taken, she didn't want to show her face, they made her do it! She was living in that camp for years, she wasn't afraid. Her look is because of him, not because of the camp! He made lots of money and she got nothing but trouble!