Photos: Hundreds commemorate Shireen Abu Akleh in memorial mass
occupy East Jerusalem – The sound of hymns and the smell of incense filled the chapel where hundreds of people gathered for a memorial mass to mark the one-year anniversary of the assassination of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.
The service, hosted by her family and friends, took place Sunday at al-Liqaa Melkite Greek Catholic Church in the Beit Hanina neighborhood of occupied East Jerusalem.
“The bullet that killed her left us all in pain and changed all of our lives,” Linah Abu Akleh, Shireen’s niece, told Al Jazeera at the church.
“A year later, our family is still fighting for justice. A year later, we are still in pain over this insurmountable loss,” she said.
A large photograph of Shireen stood on a table of white roses, candles, and crosses at the head of the chapel as the congregants honored her and prayed for her soul.
Priests and ministers offered communion to mourners and surrounded her picture with incense, to symbolize prayers for her ascension to heaven.
Household name
Shireen was a 51-year-old Palestinian-American TV correspondent for Al Jazeera Arabic and a household name for over 25 years.
May 11 marks one year since she was shot dead by an Israeli soldier while doing her job as an occupation reporter.
She was killed wearing a clearly marked press vest and helmet while covering an Israeli army raid on the Jenin refugee camp in the north of the occupied West Bank.
Her murder sparked outrage around the world, and especially among Arabs and Palestinians.
Although a year has passed, her death remains a deep source of shock and pain to many who were close to her or followed her work.
“I’m always about to call or text her, or ask her how she’s doing, how work is and stuff. And then it dawns on me again that this happened,” Lareen Abu Akleh, another niece of Shireen, told Al Jazeera.
Dina Nasser, another of Shireen’s friends who attended the service, said: “Shireen was a symbol for Palestinian women and Palestinians.
“She was the voice for the vulnerable, the underprivileged, the voice for the Palestinians and the Palestinian struggle.”