The World Is Mourning Artist Leila Alaoui Who Was Killed By Al-Qaeda In Burkina Faso
French-Moroccan photographer Leila Alaoui was killed by al-Qaeda. The 33-year-old journalist was touring Africa on behalf of Amnesty International. Was working on a project on womens rights when the jihadists shot her twice in the leg and chest. Had recovered after her surgery and even spoke to her parents but soon suffered a heart attack which she couldnt survive.
In the recent terror attack on the Cappuccino Cafe in Burkina, FasoFrench-Moroccan photographer Leila Alaoui was killed by al-Qaeda. The 33-year-old journalist was touring Africa on behalf of Amnesty International. She was working on a project on women's rights when the jihadists shot her twice in the leg and chest.
middleeastrevised.com
She had recovered after her surgery, and even spoke to her parents, but soon suffered a heart attack which she couldn't survive.
Her death is being mourned by women all over Africa and an estimated 1,000 people attended her funeral in Marrakech. Born in France, brought up in Morocco, and trained in photography in New York, Leila wanted to course through man-made borders that divided people, cultures, races, and religions.
Instagram/Leila Alaoui
Amnesty released an official statement announcing her death on Monday morning in the attack that also saw thirty more people killed and several injured.
An icon for many back home, as Leila breathed her last, many were attending her exhibition - her last completed work on The Moroccans - at the Maison Europ¨¦enne de la Photographie in Paris.
Even the French Parliament observed a minute's silence to offer their tribute to her.
The Independent
"Leila was an extraordinary young woman. We wanted to work with her because of her talent, and her passion for helping women, girls and marginalised people tell their own stories and claim their rights. As a strong woman herself, she wanted to show women as authors of their own destiny, not as victims. We are all devastated by her loss," said Amnesty International¡¯s director Yves Traore, in Burkina Faso.
Previously, Leila had also worked with UNHCR and the Danish Refugee Council to create awareness for those who sought asylum in Lebanon. Her portraits are a testimony to the brilliant work she had emerged herself in. Take a look.
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Over a year ago, Leila had also travelled to India and posted these pictures on her Instagram account:
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The world didn't just lose a beautiful girl who had her heart set on bringing down borders, but also a messiah for those who had lost their homes, and more importantly, their hope.
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