Plestia Alaqad in Conversation

Following 7 October 2023, 22-year-old Palestinian journalist Plestia Alaqad found herself reporting from a war zone in Gaza. Documenting her experiences first-hand on Instagram to over 4.5 million followers, Alaqad quickly became known worldwide for her fearless reporting. Her work has been featured in Al Jazeera, the BBC, the New York Times, and many other media outlets. She arrived in Australia in late 2023.

At this special event, Alaqad will share her story with host Samah Sabawi, and close the evening with a poetry performance. PEN Melbourne Ambassador-at-Large, Sami Shah, will deliver an opening address.

Presented in partnership with PEN Melbourne: promotes literature and defends freedom of expression.