Zahraa Al-Akhrass, a Palestinian online video journalist working for Global News, was dismissed from her position on October 17, 2023.[1] Leading up to her termination, Al-Akhrass had been actively posting on social media, expressing her critical views on Israel’s violence against Palestinians in Gaza, and sharing her personal connection to the Palestinian cause[2]. These posts, which detailed her perspective on the conflict and criticized the actions contributing to Palestinian suffering, were at the heart of the issue leading to her dismissal.
Global News demanded that Al-Akhrass remove her posts on Gaza that included hashtags like #FreePalestine, #GazaGenocide, and #GazaUnderAttack, saying that these made her appear "unbalanced."[3] When Al-Akhrass refused to remove the posts, she was investigated by Corus Entertainment[4] for allegedly violating Global's social media policies. During the investigation, Al-Akhrass shared with the investigator a screenshot of a social media post that depicted a Gazan family mourning a dead baby, in an attempt to make them understand the personal and collective pain faced by Palestinians.[5] It was this act that led to her dismissal. Al-Akhrass explained that: “Everybody at this company was outraged at me for sending such a disturbing image and they literally fired me for it. I was even told by my own union representative that even if that image was my reality, I had no right to make it the reality of that employee.”[6]
On the day of her firing, which coincided with a significant and deadly Israeli airstrike on al-Ahli Arab Hospital in northern Gaza, Al-Akhrass was informed by a senior leader at Global News that her employment was being terminated with cause. This classification implied that the termination was due to a breach of company policy, thereby exempting Global News from providing severance pay.[7] However, she was offered a financial sum to remain silent about her termination—a proposition she declined, opting instead to speak out publicly.
Following her dismissal, Al-Akhrass took to her Instagram account to express her disappointment and to highlight the broader implications of her firing. She emphasized, “I was fired on October 17 for posting about Palestine on my social media. This is not about me, but about us Palestinians. I feel disappointed that this organization has failed me as a Palestinian, racialized journalist.”[8]
Why is this incident considered Anti-Palestinian Racism (APR)?
The situation involving Zahraa Al-Akhrass's firing can be viewed as an act of anti-Palestinian racism, aligning with the Arab Canadian Lawyer Association (ACLA)'s definition, for a few key reasons. First, her dismissal during a critical time of violence against Palestinians comes across as a way to silence a Palestinian perspective within the mainstream media. The ACLA definition clarifies that “Anti-Palestinian racism is a form of anti-Arab racism that silences, excludes, erases, stereotypes, defames or dehumanizes Palestinians or their narratives."[9] Thus, this act of silencing not only removes Al-Akhrass’s voice but also signals a broader unwillingness to include similar viewpoints, effectively sidelining a narrative that is crucial during times of conflict.
Moreover, the lack of support for Al-Akhrass's social media posts, leading to her termination, suggests a dismissal of the Palestinian experience and perspective. This could be seen as reducing the legitimacy of advocacy for Palestine, portraying it as inherently controversial or biased without fair consideration of its context. Such treatment leans towards stereotyping individuals who express support for Palestine, casting their advocacy in a negative light without a valid basis.
Finally, the manner of Al-Akhrass's dismissal—being let go without a transparent reason and then being offered money to keep silent—casts a shadow on her character and breaches professional ethics. This approach indirectly accuses her of stepping beyond the boundaries of acceptable expression, without clearly defining what those boundaries were. This insinuation not only undermines her integrity but also sends a message that speaking out on certain issues could lead to unjust consequences, further silencing and discouraging open discussion on sensitive topics.
Additional Background to the Incident
In response to her termination, particularly under the circumstances of being on maternity leave, Al-Akhrass has announced plans to pursue legal action against Global News for wrongful termination. Such a legal challenge could set precedents regarding employee rights, free speech, and the obligations of media organizations toward their staff.[10] Al-Akhrass accuses Global News of silencing her and, by extension, Palestinian voices, under the pretense of enforcing journalistic neutrality and adherence to company policy. She criticizes the network for its attempt to suppress her story through financial incentives and highlighted the injustice of her being fired while on maternity leave.[11]
There has been significant community support for Al-Akhrass, and the incident has heightened public awareness about the challenges faced by Palestinian journalists and the systemic issues of anti-Palestinian bias within the mainstream media.
This situation has catalyzed a broader discourse on the responsibilities of media outlets in maintaining impartiality while also safeguarding the rights of journalists to express personal views, particularly on social media[12]. The widespread support for Al-Akhrass emphasizes the growing demand for media transparency, ethical journalism, and the dismantling of biases that silence or marginalize specific communities or viewpoints.
Resolution;
As of the last update, there wasn't a detailed public resolution provided regarding the dispute between Zahraa Al-Akhrass and Global News.
Last Updated
2024-04-08
[1] Mastracci, D., “A List Of Some People In Canada Fired For Pro-Palestine Views,” Nov. 10, 2023 plus subsequent updates, The Maple, accessed Mar. 4, 2024 at https://www.readthemaple.com/a-list-of-some-peoplein-canada-fired-for-pro-palestine-views/
[2] Anadolu Agency Americas, Canadian journalist fired over pro-Palestine posts speaks out,” Nov. 8, 2023, accessed Apr. 5, 2024 at https://www.anews.com.tr/americas/2023/11/08/canadian-journalist-fired-over-pro-palestine-posts-speaks-out
[3] Waberi, O., “‘I thought my voice would matter,’ A Palestinian journalist says she was fired over social media posts she made about the Israel-Gaza war,” Nov. 2, 2023, Now Toronto, accessed Apr. 8, 2024 at https://nowtoronto.com/news/its-not-funny-ttc-responds-to-fake-ad-going-viral-online-telling-riders-its-not-their-problem-if-they-cant-pay/
[4]The parent company of Global News
[5] Thiessen, C., “Global News parts ways with Palestinian journalist accused of bias,” Oct. 30, 2023, Broadcast Dialogue, accessed Apr. 5, 2024 at https://broadcastdialogue.com/global-news-parts-ways-with-palestinian-journalist-accused-of-bias/
[6] Jadah, T., “Palestinian journalist says Global News fired her for "speaking up about Palestine," Oct. 30, 2023, Daily Hive, accessed Apr. 5, 2024 at https://dailyhive.com/canada/global-news-fire-zahraa-alakhrass-palestine-journalist
[7] Lamoureux, I., “Global News dismisses journalist Zahraa Al-Akhrass amid controversy over anti-Israel posts,” Nov. 1, 2023, Grave Error, accessed Apr. 8, 2024 at https://tnc.news/2023/11/01/global-news-dismisses-journalist-over-anti-israel/
[8] Thiessen, C., “Global News parts ways with Palestinian journalist accused of bias,” Oct. 30, 2023, Broadcast Dialogue, accessed Apr. 5, 2024 at https://broadcastdialogue.com/global-news-parts-ways-with-palestinian-journalist-accused-of-bias/
[9] Arab Canadian Lawyers Association, “Anti-Palestinian Racism: Naming, Framing and Manifestations,” Apr. 25, 2022, accessed Mar. 4, 2024 at https://static1.squarespace.com/static/61db30d12e169a5c45950345/t/627dcf83fa17ad41ff217964/1652412292220/Anti-Palestinian+Racism-+Naming%2C+Framing+and+Manifestations.pdf
[10] Anadolu Agency Americas, Canadian journalist fired over pro-Palestine posts speaks out,” Nov. 8, 2023, accessed Apr. 5, 2024 at https://www.anews.com.tr/americas/2023/11/08/canadian-journalist-fired-over-pro-palestine-posts-speaks-out
[11] Thiessen, C., “Global News parts ways with Palestinian journalist accused of bias,” Oct. 30, 2023, Broadcast Dialogue, accessed Apr. 5, 2024 at https://broadcastdialogue.com/global-news-parts-ways-with-palestinian-journalist-accused-of-bias/
[12] Waberi, O., “‘I thought my voice would matter,’ A Palestinian journalist says she was fired over social media posts she made about the Israel-Gaza war,” Nov. 2, 2023, Now Toronto, accessed Apr. 8, 2024 at https://nowtoronto.com/news/its-not-funny-ttc-responds-to-fake-ad-going-viral-online-telling-riders-its-not-their-problem-if-they-cant-pay/