Sabeen Mahmud

Sabeen Mahmud
صبین محمود
Born(1974-06-20)20 June 1974
Karachi, Pakistan
Died24 April 2015(2015-04-24) (aged 40)
Karachi, Pakistan
Cause of deathAssassination (gunshot wounds)
NationalityPakistani
Occupation(s)Human rights activist, social activist, NGO worker

Sabeen Mahmud (20 June 1974 – 24 April 2015) (Urdu: صبین محمود) was a progressive Pakistani human rights activist and social worker who founded the Karachi-based cafe The Second Floor. She also presided over the Karachi branch of TiE.[1]

Born and raised in Karachi, Mahmud was educated at Karachi Grammar and later at the Kinnaird College. She later founded an interactive media and technology consulting firm and worked to establish the Citizens Archive of Pakistan.[2] She set up The Second Floor (T2F) in 2007 aimed at providing a community space for open dialogue.[3] Under Mahmud's leadership, T2F arranged a series of liberal social activities.[4] She also co-led protests against the Red Mosque in Islamabad, and also took part in Pakistan for All, a campaign to end sectarianism and religious intolerance in Pakistan.[4]

On 24 April 2015, Mahmud hosted a debate on the Balochistan conflict which included activists like Mama Qadeer.[5] After the event, she was shot dead by a gunman on her way home after hosting a seminar at T2F.[6] As of 20 May 2015, Pakistani authorities have arrested the culprit behind Mahmud's murder.[7] Mahmud is referred to as part of 'Pakistan’s liberal, urban, globalised civil society'.[8]

  1. ^ "Sabeen Mahmud Director T2F gunned down in Karachi". TheNews.com.pk. 25 April 2015.
  2. ^ Siddiqui, Maleeha Hamid (25 April 2015). "Sabeen Mahmud — a profile". Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  3. ^ "T2F | A Project of PeaceNiche". www.t2f.biz. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  4. ^ a b Zaidi, Hassan Belal (25 April 2015). "Sabeen, the one who never backed down". Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  5. ^ Rafi, Haneen (25 April 2015). "T2F hosts the Balochistan discussion that others shy away from". Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference ET was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference ET5 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Soofi, Mayank Austen (25 April 2015). "Death of a liberal". Retrieved 6 September 2016.