The Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was assassinated by Israeli forces on May 11 at the Jenin refugee camp. The following post commemorating Shireen Abu Akleh has four parts. First, there is a brief statement by a Palestinian friend on the article by Amer Zahr. The article follows, and following that is a photograph of Shireen Abu Akleh and a statement from Birzit University. We end up with another post from other friends in Palestine that I will not edit.
This is an example of resurrection, I think. An innocent person has been martyred and the Israeli military, representing the idols of death, continues to inflict hardships and repression on the Palestinian people and deny responsibility for the killing. But the people feel a stirring within themselves that they have felt before, and there is a cry for justice in Palestine and around the world. Birzit University has not let Shireen Abu Akleh die without notice or consolation, but keeps her memory alive by creating a scholarship in her name. The people mourn her, but they also talk of her as a martyr. She returns to life through Birzit University's efforts, the Palestinian resistance, and the solidarity of people around the world,
If it matters, Shireen Abu Akleh is a Christian. Amer Zahr explains below why we speak of Shireen Abu Akleh in the present tense.
Wanted to make sure you know our news. Sharing reflection by
Amer Zahr because I agree with his words whole heartedly. (American-Palestinian
comedian/activist who has performed at Taybeh Oktoberfest)
Shireen
May 11, 2022
Today, Israel assassinated Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. Shireen is the face of Palestine for Al-Jazeera, the world’s most-watched Arabic-language media outlet.
Early this morning, she dressed in her press vest and helmet to once again cover the everyday horrors of Palestinian life under brutal occupation.
To be clear, Shireen was not simply executed by a single bullet precisely delivered by a single sniper. She was executed by a racist apartheid movement built on the notion that Palestinians are foreigners in our own land. Based on the belief that we don’t deserve life. And if you’re American, like I am, like Shireen is, that sniper’s bullet, and his elite training, were paid for by you and me, with the full support of our leaders.
Shireen is a daughter of Jerusalem and Bethlehem. She is a voice for the voiceless. An example. She is every Palestinian’s sister. She has told the truth about Palestine for over twenty years. And today, Israel decided that she had said enough.
And yes, I will keeping talking about Shireen in the present tense. I will never say “was” about her. That’s what they want. But they don’t get to steal her from us.
And they don’t get to steal her truth either. As if on cue, Israel immediately started telling everyone she was shot by Palestinians, while a number of Palestinian eyewitnesses and fellow journalists all told the same story: There were no Palestinians, only Israeli military, in the area.
But see, this has been Israel’s game for 74 years. They have always tried to convince you that we Palestinians have all been telling the same, unchanged, coordinated lies since 1948.
While we Palestinians are really smart, no conspiracy is that good.
In the face of a rifle that sees us as unworthy of basic human life, there is only one reason we Palestinians haven’t surrendered after all this time. And that’s because the truth resides with us.
Shireen knows that. That’s why she chose her path in life. And that’s why her work will continue, no matter what happened this morning in Jenin.
That’s why we don’t say “was” about Shireen.
I have met Shireen before. I know her as smiling, supportive, radiant, and charismatic. If you hear Shireen, you will, if nothing else, learn one unmistakable truth. She loves her people. That definitely doesn’t stop today.
That’s why we don’t say “was” about Shireen.
Shireen’s family name, Abu Akleh, means someone who is wise, thoughtful, considerate, gentle. Her love for us and for Palestine embody these things. We are lucky she is one of us.
“Is” one of us. We don’t say “was” about Shireen.
We Palestinians share a bond with one another that I’m not sure others can ever understand. Yes, it is built on a shared despair, a communal suffering, and a collective loss. But most of all, it is built on a united, pure, unshakeable truth.
Shireen knows that. That’s why we don’t say “was.”
So, next time you see a Palestinian, tell them, “I’m proud of you. I love you.” Be like the best of us. Be like Shireen.
Birzit University announces the launch of the "Sherin Abu Aqla Award for Media Excellence", an annual award aimed at Palestinian journalists, aiming to encourage creativity and ethnic media work that is part of the story of Palestine.
This award, which will be announced on May 11 of each year, comes the date of the martyrdom of journalist Sherin Abu Aqla, as a tribute to her national and media role as she contributed to reaching the Palestinian voice to the world.
The University also announced the allocation of an annual scholarship in the name of Sherin Abu Aqla to an academically distinguished media student as an encouragement of academic excellence in the media under the title of "The Martyr Sherin Abu Aqlah Scholarship for Academic Excellence in the Field of Journalism and Media"..
A humble house in the neighborhoods of Jerusalem, knowing that she lives alone without a husband or children, and through her salary she can live in a palace, and because she has American citizenship she can leave Palestine also and live in Wall Street or the Hawaiian Islands, for example.
Did you know that Sherin Abu Aqla supported Ramadan fast breaking for people with special needs.
Did you know that she was treating the poor and needy at her own expense
And did you know that it was stationed throughout the month of Ramadan in Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Shereen was not a journalist as much as she was fighting and resisting and she got testimony shaa min shaa abi abi abi, people love for her is only divine love
(If God loves a servant, he calls in the heaven and earth, "I love someone, so love him).
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