Raeda Saeed is a 45-year-old Palestinian woman who has found in photography a way to highlight beauty and hope despite the suffering in Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque.
About six years ago Raeda a resident of Shu’fat refugee camp in Jerusalem started to take photos of the daily life in Jerusalem particularly at al-Aqsa Mosque expressing her love for the holy city and shedding light albeit dim on the suffering of its residents.
Raeda shares the photos she takes on her social media platform allowing hundreds of followers to see Jerusalem through her eyes especially those who cannot visit the city.
Raeda taking advantage of her job as a guide who knows al-Aqsa Mosque very well makes sure to provide detailed descriptions along with the photos she posts of the holy site and its corners.
When asked about how her passion started Raeda said that first she only used her mobile phone to document the Israeli harassments violations and assaults against the Palestinian worshipers at al-Aqsa Mosque.
When she noticed that she had a large audience Raeda decided to take her passion to a higher level and started to capture the daily life of the Jerusalemite people under and away from the Israeli occupation.
The Palestinian activist told the Palestinian Information Center that she has always been harassed and threatened because of her work by the Israeli police.
Raeda said that countless times she has been exposed to beating and tear gas and pepper gas inhalation while covering Israeli police assaults against men women and children at al-Aqsa Mosque.
Raeda’s activism has subjected her to arrest interrogation and expulsion from Jerusalem multiple times over made up charges and allegations. She even has recently received a five-month ban from entering al-Aqsa Mosque.
Raeda said that she will never bow down to Israeli harassment and pressure stressing that every photo is worth the trouble.
