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'Isis flag' picture that claims to show refugees attacking police goes viral — and is a lie | 'Isis flag' picture that claims to show refugees attacking police goes viral — and is a lie |
(4 months later) | |
A picture that purports to be of refugees carrying Isis flags and attacking police has been shared widely on social media this week — but the picture is old, probably doesn't show an Isis flag, and has nothing to do with refugees. | A picture that purports to be of refugees carrying Isis flags and attacking police has been shared widely on social media this week — but the picture is old, probably doesn't show an Isis flag, and has nothing to do with refugees. |
The image has been picked up by a range of right-wing outlets, including the Conservative Post, and has been shared tens of thousands of times since. That site said it was a "new leaked picture" that "confirmed" its claims about Isis smuggling in agents among refugees. | The image has been picked up by a range of right-wing outlets, including the Conservative Post, and has been shared tens of thousands of times since. That site said it was a "new leaked picture" that "confirmed" its claims about Isis smuggling in agents among refugees. |
The images confirm a theory that has taken hold among many right-wing sites — that Isis is using the Syrian refugee crisis to bring thousands of terrorists into Europe, among people who are fleeing the group. | The images confirm a theory that has taken hold among many right-wing sites — that Isis is using the Syrian refugee crisis to bring thousands of terrorists into Europe, among people who are fleeing the group. |
The picture appears to have come from protests in Bonn in May 2012. The protest began as one by a then ascendant far-right political party in the country, and the Muslims in the picture were part of a counter-protest. | The picture appears to have come from protests in Bonn in May 2012. The protest began as one by a then ascendant far-right political party in the country, and the Muslims in the picture were part of a counter-protest. |
Other uploads were around at the same time, confirming that the picture is just over three years old. | Other uploads were around at the same time, confirming that the picture is just over three years old. |
Video of what appears to be the same protest — at an anti-Islam rally in Bonn — can be seen in the video below. The footage was uploaded in 2012, and appears to come from the same year — long before the flag took off as a widely-understood symbol of Isis. | Video of what appears to be the same protest — at an anti-Islam rally in Bonn — can be seen in the video below. The footage was uploaded in 2012, and appears to come from the same year — long before the flag took off as a widely-understood symbol of Isis. |
(The flag can be seen at around 0.03, at the very left of the line.) | (The flag can be seen at around 0.03, at the very left of the line.) |
Those people aren’t necessarily waving the flag in any way connected with Isis. As many analysts have pointed out, the organisation took on the symbol partly because it was already a well-established icon and had been used by other groups. | Those people aren’t necessarily waving the flag in any way connected with Isis. As many analysts have pointed out, the organisation took on the symbol partly because it was already a well-established icon and had been used by other groups. |
“They want to align themselves with other movements and place themselves in a jihadist context,” Charlie Winter, a researcher at the Quilliam Foundation, told The Independent earlier this summer. | “They want to align themselves with other movements and place themselves in a jihadist context,” Charlie Winter, a researcher at the Quilliam Foundation, told The Independent earlier this summer. |
“The shahada and the Prophet’s seal are important symbols that all Muslims share. | “The shahada and the Prophet’s seal are important symbols that all Muslims share. |
"So, by co-opting words which have nothing to do with jihadism, they [Isis] broaden themselves and try to claim ideological territory that they wouldn’t be able to if they had something specific.” | "So, by co-opting words which have nothing to do with jihadism, they [Isis] broaden themselves and try to claim ideological territory that they wouldn’t be able to if they had something specific.” |