Syria’s ‘White Helmets’ to attend Oscars

Syria’s ‘White Helmets’ to attend Oscars. February. 21, 2017 07:07. by Dong-Joo Cho djc@donga.com. The New York Times reported on last Friday that the "White Helmets," a volunteer civil defense organization who has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for their desperate efforts to save lives in Syrian civil war that has lasted over seven years, will be on the red carpet and attend the Oscar ceremony.

The movie "White Helmets" depicting rescue activities of the White Helmets’ has been nominated for best documentary short in the 89th Academy Awards that are set to be held on next Sunday at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, the U.S. Makers of the film got excited for the invitation from Oscars issued on Feb. 25 but they were disappointed as U.S. President Donald Trump signed an anti-immigration executive order that bans people from seven countries including Syria to enter into the U.S. two days later. As the federal court temporarily halts Trump order on immigration, they have finally acquired visas on last Friday.

About 3,000 White Helmets have saved more than 78,000 by going through debris of buildings wracked by bombardment of Syrian civil war that began in 2011. Raed Saleh, the leader of the group, and Khaled Khatib, his assistant and the cinematographer, are planning to get on a flight to the U.S. as soon as possible for concerns over another travel ban as Mr. Trump suggested that he might issue a new order next week.

Mr. Saleh told AFP, “Several members of my team in the movie depicting our history have lost their lives on site. I want to win the Oscar this time to show them their sacrifice is not meaningless.” Mr. Khatib said, “I do this work because I believe if the world understands the suffering of my people, they will be moved to top it, to stand with us on the side of life.”

Hala Kamil, main character of “Watani: My Homeland,” will also be attending the awards. A Syrian refuge and her four children fled Syria after her husband was kidnapped by the Islamic State (IS). The movie is also up for best documentary short.