In the 2021 war, I was there at that moment, documenting the
collapse of the Al-Jalaa Tower before my eyes. Our moments
with friends and fellow journalists were crumbling just as the
building collapsed before us, and the famous words of Wael AlDahdouh echoed in my mind: “The tower has collapsed, the
tower has collapsed.”
I stood before the rubble, and in my mind, I pictured the
journalists who sacrificed to convey the truth, the brave
individuals who stood in the face of the war machine not only to
report what was happening but to document the truth that
many sought to conceal. I decided to write on one of the
destroyed walls the phrase ” ا”) “Journalism Is
Not a Crime”) in Arabic calligraphy, to affirm that journalism is
not just a profession, but a message, an essential role in
conveying the truth and defending rights.
This work was not just a drawing on a destroyed wall; it was a
message of resilience. The message this tower carried before it
collapsed was clear: journalism is not a crime. We, as
journalists, pursue the truth regardless of the costs. We are here
because we believe that the words and images we convey can
illuminate the darkness and expose the lies.
Thus, I wanted my art to bear witness to the moment when the
truth shattered, yet the journalistic spirit within us, despite all
attempts to suppress it, remains alive and continuing.
