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Will the image of a lifeless boy on a beach change the refugee debate? Will the image of a lifeless boy on a beach change the refugee debate?
(35 minutes later)
Most of Thursday’s UK national newspaper front pages were dominated by pictures of a policeman lifting the lifeless body of a three-year-old boy who had been washed up on the Turkish shore.Most of Thursday’s UK national newspaper front pages were dominated by pictures of a policeman lifting the lifeless body of a three-year-old boy who had been washed up on the Turkish shore.
Similar pictures were shown on UK television news bulletins the night before. It also appeared on other global TV outlets and in many papers across Europe, in Turkey, and in many Middle East countries.Similar pictures were shown on UK television news bulletins the night before. It also appeared on other global TV outlets and in many papers across Europe, in Turkey, and in many Middle East countries.
According to Turkish media, the boy was Aylan Kurdi, from Kobani in northern Syria, and was said to have died with his five-year-old brother. They were among 12 Syrians who drowned while attempting to reach the Greek island of Kos.According to Turkish media, the boy was Aylan Kurdi, from Kobani in northern Syria, and was said to have died with his five-year-old brother. They were among 12 Syrians who drowned while attempting to reach the Greek island of Kos.
This is the kind of iconic image that will surely be republished for many years to come because it encapsulates, in a single frame, the tragedy of people fleeing from oppression and willing to take extraordinary risks in order to reach safety in the west.This is the kind of iconic image that will surely be republished for many years to come because it encapsulates, in a single frame, the tragedy of people fleeing from oppression and willing to take extraordinary risks in order to reach safety in the west.
It was such a shocking image that even those editors who have run anti-refugee propaganda for week upon week felt they must give it full measure.It was such a shocking image that even those editors who have run anti-refugee propaganda for week upon week felt they must give it full measure.
It featured on the front pages of the Times, the Sun, Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, Metro and the Guardian. The Independent used the arguably more harrowing picture of the washed-up body, which some may have found distasteful (though it was also shown on television and seemed relevant to me).It featured on the front pages of the Times, the Sun, Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, Metro and the Guardian. The Independent used the arguably more harrowing picture of the washed-up body, which some may have found distasteful (though it was also shown on television and seemed relevant to me).
Oddly, the Daily Telegraph tucked its picture of the police officer bearing the child away on an inside page, as did i (even smaller). Odder still: the Daily Express ran the story of the “two tragic boys washed up on the beach” but did not run the picture. Oddly, the Daily Telegraph tucked its picture of the police officer bearing the child away on an inside page, as did i (even smaller). Odder still: the Daily Express ran the story of the “two tragic boys washed up on the beach” but did not use the picture.
Perhaps those editors felt their readers would not be able to stomach it. Perhaps they thought it too sympathetic to the refugees. Whatever the case, their decisions were wrong. Here was the body of a little boy from the east dressed for the west - in trainers and red T-shirt - that he would never reach.Perhaps those editors felt their readers would not be able to stomach it. Perhaps they thought it too sympathetic to the refugees. Whatever the case, their decisions were wrong. Here was the body of a little boy from the east dressed for the west - in trainers and red T-shirt - that he would never reach.
It humanised the “swarm”, as the the Mail’s headline recognised: “Tiny victim of a human catastrophe”. Metro’s headline said: “Europe could not save him.” The Mirror laid the blame at Britain’s door, saying:It humanised the “swarm”, as the the Mail’s headline recognised: “Tiny victim of a human catastrophe”. Metro’s headline said: “Europe could not save him.” The Mirror laid the blame at Britain’s door, saying:
“The harrowing image should shame leaders, including David Cameron, who refuse to accept more refugees.”“The harrowing image should shame leaders, including David Cameron, who refuse to accept more refugees.”
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, writing in i, also rapped the prime minister in wondering whether the image might “break through the emotional and political fortresses.”Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, writing in i, also rapped the prime minister in wondering whether the image might “break through the emotional and political fortresses.”
She argued that the picture of a girl fleeing a napalm attack in Vietnam in 1972 “turned American public opinion against that terrible war.” Could this picture of the boy on the beach turn British and/or European opinion. Will it become “a symbol of European brutality or humanity”, she asked.She argued that the picture of a girl fleeing a napalm attack in Vietnam in 1972 “turned American public opinion against that terrible war.” Could this picture of the boy on the beach turn British and/or European opinion. Will it become “a symbol of European brutality or humanity”, she asked.
That is certainly the right question, but aside from the pictures of Aylan Kurdi and the accompanying compassionate copy, a quick scan of the other headlines and articles about the refugee crisis suggest that it is business as usual for most editors.That is certainly the right question, but aside from the pictures of Aylan Kurdi and the accompanying compassionate copy, a quick scan of the other headlines and articles about the refugee crisis suggest that it is business as usual for most editors.
There was a clear message: Britain is right to refuse to take in more refugees. The Mail railed against Angela Merkel and the European Commission for “trying to blackmail the UK into accepting more Syrian asylum-seekers”. It continued:There was a clear message: Britain is right to refuse to take in more refugees. The Mail railed against Angela Merkel and the European Commission for “trying to blackmail the UK into accepting more Syrian asylum-seekers”. It continued:
“Germany has no business lecturing jam-packed Britain on our moral duty to refugees, with our far more consistent record of offering sanctuary to the world’s desperate.”“Germany has no business lecturing jam-packed Britain on our moral duty to refugees, with our far more consistent record of offering sanctuary to the world’s desperate.”
As for the Express, its leading article said: “Accepting more refugees will not solve anything.”As for the Express, its leading article said: “Accepting more refugees will not solve anything.”
And several of the larger headlines and stories were devoted to the “plight” of Eurostar travellers whose trains were delayed by migrants gettinginto the Channel tunnel.And several of the larger headlines and stories were devoted to the “plight” of Eurostar travellers whose trains were delayed by migrants gettinginto the Channel tunnel.
“Eurostar passengers faint in 16-hour ordeal as they hear refugees on the roof”, said the Telegraph. “Migrants try to force way into Eurostar,” said the Times. The London Evening Standard devoted its splash to that story too.“Eurostar passengers faint in 16-hour ordeal as they hear refugees on the roof”, said the Telegraph. “Migrants try to force way into Eurostar,” said the Times. The London Evening Standard devoted its splash to that story too.
In an editorial, the Sun sought to separate “merely economic migrants” from “genuione asylum seekers.” Britain was right to hold back “the thousands massed at Calais” but Cameron should do something for those fleeing danger in Syria. In an editorial, the Sun sought to separate “merely economic migrants” from “genuine asylum seekers.” Britain was right to hold back “the thousands massed at Calais” but Cameron should do something for those fleeing danger in Syria.
“Our nation,” it said, “has a proud record of taking in desperate people and we should not flinch from it now if it is beyond doubt that they have fled for their lives.” It continued:“Our nation,” it said, “has a proud record of taking in desperate people and we should not flinch from it now if it is beyond doubt that they have fled for their lives.” It continued:
“Europe’s biggest movement of refugees since world war two must be tackled at source.“Europe’s biggest movement of refugees since world war two must be tackled at source.
Mr Cameron and President Obama must finally get serious about bringing order to Syria, Iraq and Libya.”Mr Cameron and President Obama must finally get serious about bringing order to Syria, Iraq and Libya.”
Even if feasible, “bringing order” would be a long-term project. Meanwhile, the crisis is here and now. It could be argued that it is possible to detect from some of the sentiments in this leading article that the picture of Aylan Kurdi has had a beneficial influence.Even if feasible, “bringing order” would be a long-term project. Meanwhile, the crisis is here and now. It could be argued that it is possible to detect from some of the sentiments in this leading article that the picture of Aylan Kurdi has had a beneficial influence.
It may be naive to suggest that the image of his body on a beach will change minds, but I like to think that it will.It may be naive to suggest that the image of his body on a beach will change minds, but I like to think that it will.