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Shireen Abu Akleh

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Shireen Abu Akleh was a highly prominent Palestinian-American journalist. She worked as a reporter for 25 years for the Al Jazeera news network.

Shireen Abu Akleh
Shireen Abu Akleh

She became an icon of Palestinian journalism and a role model for many women in the Arab world. Her death in 2022 caused significant international attention. Many news organizations, including the BBC and The New York Times, described her as a household name. She was widely admired by both her colleagues and her viewers.

Born in Jerusalem in 1971, Abu Akleh came from a Melkite Catholic family. Her parents, Louli and Nasri Abu Aqleh, were from Bethlehem. She spent time in the United States and obtained U.S. citizenship through her mother's family. She attended Rosary Sisters high school in Beit Hanina. Initially, she studied architecture at the Jordan University of Science and Technology. She later transferred to Yarmouk University in Jordan to study print journalism. She graduated with a bachelor's degree and returned to Palestine to begin her career.

Abu Akleh's career included work for several different organizations. She worked for Radio Monte Carlo, the Voice of Palestine, and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). In 1997, she joined Al Jazeera as one of their first field correspondents. She reported on many major events in the Palestinian territories. These included the Second Intifada and various operations in the Gaza Strip. In 2005, she became the first Arab journalist allowed to interview long-term prisoners at Shikma Prison. She was constantly working to improve her skills, including studying Hebrew to understand Israeli media.

On May 11, 2022, Abu Akleh was covering an Israeli military raid in the Jenin refugee camp. She was wearing a blue press vest to identify herself as a journalist.

Coordinates of Shireen Abu Akleh murder
Coordinates of Shireen Abu Akleh murder

During the raid, she was shot and killed. An autopsy at An-Najah National University provided specific details about her death. The pathologist found she was killed by an armour-piercing bullet. The bullet struck the back of her head and exited her forehead. It then ricocheted off her helmet, causing severe damage to her brain and skull. She was 51 years old.

The events following her death led to complex investigations and many different claims. Al Jazeera accused the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) of deliberately targeting her. Israel initially blamed Palestinian militants for the shooting. However, Israel later changed its narrative, stating she was likely killed by accidental fire. This change happened after investigations by the United Nations and the United States Department of State. Forensic Architecture later stated that she was deliberately targeted. In November 2022, the United States Department of Justice opened its own investigation. Israel condemned this move and refused to cooperate with the investigation.

Abu Akleh's funeral was a massive event attended by tens of thousands of people.

Official funeral of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in Ramallah 3
Official funeral of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in Ramallah 3

It was believed to be the largest Palestinian funeral in Jerusalem in over twenty years.

Funeral of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh 2
Funeral of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh 2

During the procession at Saint Joseph's Hospital, violence broke out. Israeli police entered the hospital and used batons and stun grenades. They also attacked the pallbearers who were carrying the coffin. The Christian Churches of the Holy Land stated that this was a disproportionate use of force. They also noted it violated the right to freedom of religion.

Today, Shireen Abu Akleh's legacy continues through various memorials and programs. The United Nations renamed its annual training program for journalists in her honor. It is now called The Shireen Abu Akleh Training Program for Palestinian Broadcasters and Journalists.

Shireen Abu Akleh Media Tent, part of the Oxford 2024 Palestine encampment
Shireen Abu Akleh Media Tent, part of the Oxford 2024 Palestine encampment

Her life and death remain central to discussions about press freedom and journalism in conflict zones. People continue to demand accountability for the circumstances of her death. Her story remains a significant part of the history of Middle Eastern media.

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🖼️ Images & Media (7)
File:Shireen Abu Akleh.jpg
Shireen Abu Akleh.jpg
File:Official funeral of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in Ramallah 3.png
Official funeral of journalist Shireen...
File:Funeral of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh 2.png
Funeral of Palestinian journalist Shireen...
File:London May 14 Palestine Protests.jpg
London May 14 Palestine Protests.jpg
File:Coordinates of Shireen Abu Akleh murder.png
Coordinates of Shireen Abu Akleh murder.png
File:Shireen Abu Akleh Media Tent, part of the Oxford 2024 Palestine encampment.jpg
Shireen Abu Akleh Media Tent, part of the...
File:Shireen Abu Akleh Memorial Library at the Exeter Encampment for Palestine 23 May 2024.jpg
Shireen Abu Akleh Memorial Library at the...
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