Remembering Leila Alaoui, a tribute by CNDH & Amnesty International against extremism
The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) and Amnesty International gave a moving tribute to photographer Leila Alaoui on Friday, February 19, 2016, at the CNDH's exhibition stall at the International Book and Publishing Fair, in Casablanca (SIEL 12-21 Feb. 2016).
Several figures from the world of art and culture took part in the event to give their testimonies and last tributes to the artist. Displayed at the event, her works attracted the attention of the audience, visitors and passerby, who much appreciated their professional qualities.
“The works of Leila Alaoui convey the sufferings of many excluded people”, said Younès Ajarraï, a close friend and Director of the CNDH’s National Human Rights Training Institute.
Leila Alaoui was very active in society defending the rights of excluded and marginalized people. She initiated, for example, “Bladi, Bladek” (my country your country), an association which defends the rights of sub-Saharan immigrants, and produced “Tous pareils, tous africains” (All the same, all Africans), a spot that denounces discrimination and stigmatization against sub-Saharan immigrants. The spot was screened for the first time at her tribute in Casablanca.
At the end of this tribute, Amnesty called on upon intellectuals, artists, and writers to form a cultural front against extremism, fanaticism, and terrorism and be more active in defending individual rights and fundamental freedoms.
Leila Alaoui, 33, passed away on the 19th of January 2016, sustaining severe injuries from gunshots during a terrorist attack on a restaurant in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. She had been sent to Ouagadougou by Amnesty to work on a series on women’s rights.