Doctored image of man carrying Afghan flag
Doctored image of man carrying Afghan flag
(Reuters) – An image widely shared online showing an old man carrying the flag of Afghanistan on a pole is altered; it is a composite of two photos: one of a man carrying the flag of the Taliban, and one of the Afghanistan flag that was distributed by a news agency.
The altered photo was shared dozens of times on social media, including by the Ambassador of Afghanistan to Sri Lanka.
The earliest example of this photo found by Reuters on social media was from Aug. 8. There are some minor variations in the size of the flag shown in these images. However, in all cases the design and deformations of the flag are the same.
These images are doctored. They are composites of two other images, including an image of the same man holding a flag, but that of the Taliban. That image had been spread widely online from Aug 6, including by pro-Taliban propaganda accounts.
Reuters did not find any version of the photo showing the flag of Afghanistan that predates the version with the flag of the Taliban.
The authenticity of the these earlier versions with the white flag are corroborated by videos that appear to show the same man holding the flag of the Taliban, released by the same pro-Taliban propaganda account.
It is unclear when the photo or the video were originally taken, and another photo showing a similar figure carrying the same flag was posted on social media in October 2020.
The flag of Afghanistan in the altered photo appears to be blowing in the wind and has distinct creases that block out parts of the National Emblem. It is an exact match for a photo that was distributed by AP and attributed to Massoud Hossaini, taken in September 2014.
Altered versions of the same image have also been used in Afghan advertisements.
A comparison between the flag in the photo (flipped and rotated) and the AP image can be seen, illustrating that they are an exact match.
VERDICT
Altered. An image of an old man carrying an Afghanistan flag is a composite of an earlier image and a photo distributed by AP.
