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Carter Center Statement on the Anniversary of Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh’s Killing

ATLANTA (May 11, 2023) — The Carter Center joins those continuing to mourn the loss of Shireen Abu Akleh and again calls for a full and transparent investigation into her killing.

Shireen was a Palestinian American journalist who was a passionate and outspoken advocate for human rights. Her death serves as a reminder of the perils that journalists face when bringing attention to the hardships and injustices that marginalized and indigenous people endure.

One year after she was killed, no independent and official investigation has been made public, and no one has been held accountable. This highlights the urgent need for the United States to prioritize journalists’ safety and bring to justice those responsible.

We urge the U.S. government to release the complete and unedited U.S. security coordinator report to members of Congress under appropriate classification and to hold those responsible accountable for their actions.

The killing of Shireen exemplifies the ongoing impunity for lethal violence carried out by Israeli forces against Palestinians, including Palestinian Americans. We call on the international community to hold the government of Israel accountable for violations of international law and to work toward a just and sustainable peace that respects the rights and dignity of all people, regardless of nationality or ethnicity.

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Contact: In Atlanta, Maria Cartaya, maria.cartaya@cartercenter.org

The Carter Center
Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope.

A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide.