Nationality Norwegian Known for Stand-up comedy Spouse Martin Gaarder (m. 2008) | Role Comedian Name Shabana Gaarder | |
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Frokostprat med Shabana Rehman Gaarder og Robert Mood
Shabana Rehman Gaarder (Urdu: شبانه رحمان) (born 14 July 1976 in Karachi, Pakistan) is a Norwegian stand-up comedian, writer and columnist.
Contents
- Frokostprat med Shabana Rehman Gaarder og Robert Mood
- Freedom of expression Introduction of three winners of cartoon festival Shabana Rehman
- Personal history
- Marriage
- Professional career
- Debate
- Prizes
- References
Freedom of expression - Introduction of three winners of cartoon festival / Shabana Rehman
Personal history
One of seven children, she moved with her family to Norway in 1977.
Marriage
She married writer Dagfinn Nordbø in 2003, the two having initially met on the stand-up circuit in 1999. Tabloid newspaper Dagbladet listed the couple among the country's most influential opinion shapers. After two years of marriage the couple split up as Rehman was moving to the United States for studies. Then in August 2007 the couple announced that they were divorcing though still remaining friends.
In 2008 she married Martin Gaarder, a journalist in the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation.
Professional career
She is active in several arenas and is devoted to breaking taboos and creating more openness.
Rehman started her career as a columnist in VG in 1996, her debut as a stand-up comedian came in 1999. She later started working as a columnist for Dagbladet in 2000 and now regularly writes for newspapers and magazines.
Rehman has received international publicity and has been interviewed by Time Magazine and the New York Times. Her shows have played for full houses in Norway, Denmark, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands. She is fluent in Norwegian, Urdu and English, and has performed in German.
In 2006 Shabana joined the American Comedy Institute in New York City.
Debate
These are some of the events that have created debate around her persona. In Scandinavia it is referred to as the "Shabana debate". She has police protection.
Anthropologist Marianne Gullestad accused Rehman of reinforcing stereotypes about Muslims, and making Norwegians think it's ok to discriminate against immigrants.