Photo Exhibit Honors Slain Media Student Saji Darwish

Birzeit University’s Media Department opened on April 16, 2014 a photo exhibit honoring Saji Darwish, a student of the department who was killed by Israeli soldiers. The exhibit was co-sponsored Jawwal Mobile Company.

Faculty of Arts Dean Mehdi Arar spoke at the opening, emphasizing the faculty’s interest in photography.

Department Chair Bassam Owaidah said that the exhibit aims at encourage and motivate students to be creative and to get involved in photojournalism at an early stage.

Jawwal marketing communication director Thabet Ghanayim said he was impressed by the exhibit, and said that Jawwal seeks to support Palestinian young people, who will shape the future and make change.

Exhibit coordinator Eyad Jadallah said that the event was held to honor media student Saji Darwish, who was shot by Israeli occupation forces on March 10, 2014, as he was examining his sheep barn near his home village of Bitin, east of Ramallah.

Jadallah explained that the photos displayed exemplify Palestinian daily life - work and study - as well as the daily suffering caused by the Israeli occupation. The exhibit included the best 42 photos taken by students of a photojournalism course, along with 16 photos taken by professional photographers from Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.