The disturbing photo was part of a series that helped The Associated Press win top honors in one category at the International Picture of the Year Awards. The decision sparked widespread debate on social media.
Many users criticized the use of Luke’s image, saying it was a disrespectful portrayal of Jewish life. The award, sponsored by the Donald W. Reynolds School of Journalism at the Missouri School of Journalism, has been met with backlash.
Comments on various platforms included “This is wrong and sick” and “Today is a dark day for journalism and the world.”
Despite the criticism, the photo was initially shared on the awards organizers’ Instagram page. However, the content was later removed due to public outcry over its content.
Luke’s ordeal began when she was taken hostage during the Supernova music festival near the Gaza border, which was the target of a surprise attack by Hamas. Her tragic story gained widespread attention on social media after photos of her body being paraded in a pickup truck circulated online. According to a rabbi who spoke to Locke’s family, Locke was tortured before his death. She holds German and Israeli citizenship and spent part of her childhood in Portland, Oregon, where she attended Portland Jewish Seminary.