The Theatre of Investigations: The killing of Shireen Abu Akleh one year on

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Podcast

12 May, 2023

 

 

A year and a day have passed since the killing of veteran Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in the occupied West Bank. 

Forensic Investigations, as well as investigations from multiple media organisations and the Palestinian Authority, have concluded that the Palestinian-American was shot by an Israeli sniper while covering a raid in Jenin. 

Video evidence, eyewitness testimony, spatial analysis, autopsy reports and other sources, have been used to confirm this conclusion. 

But in spite of the wealth of evidence, no one has been held accountable for her death. 

This week, The New Arab Voice looks at the detailed forensic investigations into Shireen’s death and how they were able to piece together the story of what happened on that tragic day.

The episode also examines responses from the Israeli and American authorities, and explores what efforts have been made to hold the killers - both the individual who pulled the trigger and those up the chain of command - to account. 

We speak with Jumanah Bawazi, a researcher at Forensic Architecture (@ForensicArchi) - a multidisciplinary research group that partnered with Palestinian human rights organisation Al Haq to produce a 3D reconstruction of the crime scene. 

Rodney Dixon KC from Temple Garden Chambers (@TG_Chambers) - Al Jazeera’s legal counsel - discusses the formal request submitted to the International Criminal Court to conduct a thorough and independent investigation. 

UK Labour MP Kim Leadbeater (@kimleadbeater) explains why a thorough and independent investigation into the journalist’s death is “long overdue” and recounts her experience when meeting Shireen’s brother Anton. 

Lastly, Lamis Andoni (@LamisAndo) friend of Shireen and a Palestinian journalist speaks about what the Palestinian-American was like as a person and what motivated her to cover events in the occupied territories, as well as what justice may look like in the long-term. 

This podcast is written and produced by Rosie McCabe with help from Hugo Goodridge. 

Theme music by Omar al-Fil. 

Other music by Blue Dot Sessions. 

To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice or email hugo.goodridge@newarab.com