Forgotten:
In conversation with Raja Shehadeh

Tuesday 11th February 2025
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Raja is not just a lawyer, writer, and human rights activist — he is a witness to history and a voice for justice in Palestine.

Born in 1951 in Ramallah, his life has been shaped by displacement, resistance and an unwavering belief in the power of words and law. His family’s journey — from Jaffa to Ramallah during the Nakba — set the stage for a lifelong struggle to defend Palestinian rights.

In 1979, Raja co-founded Al-Haq, one of Palestine’s most respected human rights organisations, pioneering legal advocacy against the occupation. But his activism has never been confined to the courtroom. Through his writing, he has brought the landscapes of Palestine to life, weaving history, memory and politics into deeply personal narratives. His 2008 book ‘Palestinian Walks’ won the Orwell Prize, offering readers a poignant exploration of a land constantly reshaped by conflict.

Raja is not just a lawyer, writer, and human rights activist — he is a witness to history and a voice for justice in Palestine.

His story is not just one of resistance, but of resilience — the quiet, steadfast determination to keep walking forward, even when the path in front of you is being demolished.

Raja’s commitment to justice runs in his blood. His great-great-uncle, Najib Nassar, used journalism to challenge oppression in the dying days of the Ottoman Empire. His father, Aziz, was among the first Palestinians to advocate for a two-state solution. Raja studied law in London before returning home to practice alongside his father, navigating the legal and political minefields of occupation.

Through his legal work and literature, Raja has spent decades documenting the erosion of Palestinian life under occupation, all the while searching for hope amid the hardship. His story is not just one of resistance, but of resilience — the quiet, steadfast determination to keep walking forward, even when the path in front of you is being demolished.

Raja reads from his new book, ‘Forgotten: Searching For Palestine’s Hidden Places and Lost Memorials’ and 2024’s ‘What Does Israel Fear From Palestine?’