Investigating a murder can be difficult for any journalist, even for a team of 32 Georgetown students. Monday, four members of the team members came for a presentation of their investigation at the University of Oklahoma.
In the spring of 2007 journalist Asra Q. Nomani approached Georgetown professor Barbara Feinman Todd about a project idea. Their goal was to finally find out the truth behind the live execution of American journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002.
Daniel Pearl was not only a well-known journalist for the Wall Street Journal but a husband and a friend. His goal when he went to Pakistan was just to get an interview for a story he was working on. But little did he know this would be the last trip he would ever take. He was kidnapped and beheaded on national television by a group of 27 men.
The determined team of 32 was hard at work for 3 years to put together the puzzle that had been jumbled for so long. They faced problems such as technical difficulties, gender and racial discrimination and the challenge of finding credible sources. But, these challenges didn’t stop anyone from pushing on and finishing the investigation.
Nomani, colleague and friend of Pearl, was unable to participate in much of the investigation because she was not only female, but also India, an enemy of Pakistan. She was accused of being a spy and not trusted by many. Nomani explained how she thought that it was difficult growing up in America to see that the rest of the world wasn’t as accepting to all races and genders and there was still extreme discrimination.
The Daniel Pearl Investigation was finally completed in 2010. An eBook was published over the findings on Public Integrities website. Although difficult, through this investigation the truth was told and closure was finally obtained. The Daniel Pearl story will continue to be told and he will always be remembered.
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