If Shani Louk had been anything but Israeli, AP would not have given the photo any award.
“Hamas victim Shani Louk’s grief-stricken mother reveals how award given for photo of tattoo artist’s naked and mutilated body being paraded by terrorists forces her family to relive her murder on October 7,” by Dan Grennan, Daily Mail, April 7, 2024
The grief-stricken mother of Hamas victim Shani Louk has revealed how an award given for a photo of her daughter’s half-naked and mutilated body forced her family to relive the trauma of her murder.
The 22-year-old German-Israeli was one of 364 people killed at the SuperNova Festival, which she was attending with her boyfriend, in the October 7 attacks.
The picture shows four Hamas militants celebrating as they brandish a rocket launcher and guns while sitting on top of Shani Louk’s body, which is lying face down in the back of a pickup truck.
That photo, which was taken by freelance photographer Ali Mahmud, was the centerpiece of the submission that won photo agency AP the Team Picture Story of the Year category from the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute at the Missouri School of Journalism.
Now Shani’s mother, Ricarda, has revealed the award has forced her family to relive the trauma of her daughter’s murder.
She told the Telegraph: ‘[It is] ‘traumatic for all of us. Just try to imagine seeing your loved girl lying half-naked and lifeless on the truck with those savages around her.’
The tattoo artist was still wearing the clubbing outfit she had on while attending the music festival in the picture.
Separate footage recorded in the hours after the photo was taken shows her body being paraded around the streets of Gaza, with some passers-by spitting on her.
‘Seeing those pictures again because of the contest makes our family relive the pain,’ said Ms Louk.
The 53-year-old added that her family were not told in advance that the photo was being put forward for an award, which she said ‘made me angry’.
‘The fact they celebrated this photo with a prize makes us hurt even more because really, it’s like celebrating that they were killed.
‘I mean, the whole massacre is celebrated. It’s not by chance that they chose this picture so it hurts us even more….
somehistory says
I feel such anger for this mom and the rest of the family due to the cruelty, the demonic celebration of what the ghouls….and their supporters .. did to this beautiful young woman.
The ghouls raped and murdered her, tried to dehumanize her by using her body in such a profane way, and then having the photos be displayed and given an award. Awarding evil. Celebrating evil.
And these same ones pretend that Israel is lying when it shows what hamas…and the *innocent* palestinians, teens and women….did to the Jews they found having fun, or feeding their children, or sleeping.
There should be a suit filed by the mom as plaintiff and where the court should award her millions….millions paid to her by the photographer and the ones giving the photos an award. Justice would be if she could hold the ghouls who took her daughter, raped and murdered her and paraded her through the streets, accountable.
I hope she can find some comfort in the Promises God made so many years ago.. One of them; ..”Vengeance is mine. I will repay, says the LORD.”
James Lincoln says
somehistory,
What was done to Hamas victim Shani Louk Is certainly one of the most horrifically evil things that I have ever seen.
And it’s impossible to un-see the pictures and video – once you’ve seen them.
Hopefully, her mother will sue and receive millions – but her pain will live on.
I will say a special prayer for them.
somehistory says
I agree, James. One cannot un-see the evil horror, nor can I not imagine her pain and the pain her mom feels.
Mothers who love their children, never see them without thinking of their “babies” and to have seen what her baby went through…nothing man can do will ever make that right or ease that pain.
I, too, pray for them. The young woman is not feeling any pain, and the mom’s heart can find some relief from the Loving God, Who can see exactly how she feels.
Stephen Brown says
I’m jaundiced enough to believe that this ‘photographer’ joined in on the savagery and spitting. We are living in evil times.
somehistory says
Stephen Brown ,
I agree. I imagine that he did take part in it. And yes, evil to the core.
St. Croix says
Yes, that photographer was there. Participating to some degree. I don’t think he was like “Mosul Eye” who slyly captured the savagery of ISIS during their conquest. He risked his life to get the word out and the images, to prove how depraved these people were (are).
This man just got an award for being there and snapping off some photos. Any different than the ones who documented their barbarous acts? And put it on social media? Maybe he didn’t actively participate. But it’s doubtful he condemned, as he was still alive to submit his photos. DEI via AP–he is a poor Palestinian who needs a leg-up on his new career in photography?
Sue says
Amen.
Westman says
Western “journalism” is disgusting, immoral, and dishonest, the plaything of Oligarchs and political schemers.
Wouldn’t it be comic if their entrance into next life was only allowed after a false account was written about their personal lives and a compromising photo of an actual “wrongdoing” were distributed to all inhabitants?
aum says
AP award is a disgusting act.
Ricarda please sue AP in the US courts.
abu taleb says
If the victim were a muslim or other non Jews, Ap would have been slammed all over the world, and AP would not dream of giving an award to such photo. But AP has no problem at all with the photo because it was a Jews who was the victim. Clearly AP is antisemitic, racist toward the Jews.
AP has blood on its hand together with Hamas.
David says
Personally I think this photo is evidence that everyone should support Israel. I am depressed that no one has changed their views because of this.
If you are not sure who to support in a war – always chose the side that doesn’t drag naked girl’s bodies around.
bagsgroove says
There is no limits to the depravity of muslims and their supporters. They are the true enemies of our society and should be damned.
Jeremy says
Totally depraved and sickening to think this is okay. It’s not about the tragedy of the whole event but the celebration of murdering an innocent person. Only people who believe in a sick psychotic ideology such as Islam would revel in such a photo like this.
James Lincoln says
The Associated Press took a hard Left turn decades ago.
Anything that they put out now has to be independently verified.