Photographer Provokes Anger at Ahmed El-Feshawy's Mother's Funeral, Journalist Union Responds
The funeral of the late artist Soumaya El-Alfi, held on Monday evening in Cairo, was overshadowed by a controversial incident involving photographers and her son, Ahmed El-Feshawy. The situation escalated when a photographer approached El-Feshawy to capture his grief following his mother's passing.
A video circulating on social media shows El-Feshawy visibly upset by the photographer's actions. He confronted the photographer, taking his phone to delete the images and demanding that he leave the funeral, which sparked widespread condemnation online. Many criticized the photographer for disrespecting the artist's privacy and the emotions of those in attendance.
In response, the photographers' section of the Egyptian journalists' union issued a strong statement condemning the photographer's actions. They stated, "We denounce the act of taking close-up photographs during a moment of profound human sorrow, which violates the most basic professional and ethical standards of journalism."
The union emphasized that coverage of funerals and burials must adhere to clear guidelines that balance the right to information with respect for individuals' emotional privacy. Any deviation from these standards is deemed unacceptable, and all photographers are urged to uphold the professional and ethical values that protect individual dignity.
Khaled El-Balshi, president of the journalists' union, expressed full support for the statement, labeling the incident a blatant violation of journalistic coverage rules. He remarked, "This behavior is entirely contrary to professional standards and hurts the feelings of those mourning during difficult human moments."
The funeral for Soumaya El-Alfi, who passed away at the age of 72 after a prolonged battle with cancer, was attended by numerous art world figures. It was an emotional farewell, especially poignant as she had recently bid farewell to her son on set just days before her death.
