Atrocity propaganda vs. the testimony of atrocity
JVL Introduction
Mary Turfah draws an important distinction here, embodied in the title of the article: atrocity propaganda vs testimonies of atrocities.
Atrocities occur frequently in war. What matters is how they are reported and, related to that, the purpose of reporting them
Testimonies of atrocity are about the event being reported, faithfully recording not justifying anything. Such reports may fit into a larger narrative but their purpose is clear, preserving a record of what occurred.
Using atrocities to spread “information about the crimes committed by an enemy, especially deliberate fabrications or exaggerations” is another matter entirely. Its purpose is propaganda, the truth or falsity of the reports mattering only if they are easily exposed as fraudulent which might undermine their propaganda effect.
Whatever actually happened on 7th October, reporting of it falls squarely into the atrocity propaganda category.
RK
This article was originally published by Mondoweiss on Sun 31 Mar 2024. Read the original here.
Atrocity propaganda vs. the testimony of atrocity
Since October 7, Zionists have wielded atrocity propaganda to justify genocide, while Palestinians have shared testimony of the atrocities they have witnessed. The difference is not just in the truth of these stories, but also their function.
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An important article, cogently expressing and exposing the ways in which reports of barbarities can be misused and also be recorded properly.
‘Atrocity propaganda begets atrocities’ just goes to the heart of what is happening in Gaza.
What happened to WCK trucks and the killing of those Aid workers, three of whom were surprisingly ex military security?
https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/how-world-central-kitchen-serves-israels-genocidal-agenda
I am also thinking of the Indian Uprising (Mutiny). Eyewitness accounts of atrocities committed by the mutineers were repeated, embellished, in some cases invented, while eyewitness accounts of British civilians being saved by Indian people were mostly only published in later memoirs. A wave of vengeful fury convulsed the British public (with the great exception of ‘the last Chartists’ led by Ernest Jones who saw the Uprising as a lesson on the crimes of Empire and the need for the oppressed to rise up).
Recent research by Indian scholars has revealed that British reprisals killed up to 2 million people in cold blood. These included defeated enemy combatants, villagers suspected of sheltering the enemy, and fighters from religious orders whose losses have only been investigated in recent years. Scottish troops (from a recently dispossessed people themselves) were used to carry out many of the mass hangings and killings. The most notorious public punishments such as firing captured rebels from cannons were also used to season the English troops; as Paul Gilroy noted, what can it have been like to stand on parade while being covered with the blood and body parts of Indian soldiers?
The British public, Charles Dickens among them , were wildly in favour of revenge because all they had heard was stories of atrocities carried out by Indians against women and children. We still have statues here of the Generals who suppressed the Uprising: Havelock is in Trafalgar Square and Outram in Whitehall Gardens. Their name liveth for evermore?
Thank you so much for yet another article which cogently disects this constant barrage of manipulation . It’s a very valuable service. I remember back in the ‘zeros’ reading article after article about how Muslims condemn the 9/11 atrocities then say “but”. How dare they! Context not permitted. Atrocities beget atrocities it called revenge it’s atrocious but it always happens if you upset enough people, there are going to be some provoked into going down to the same level and if anyone claims they cannot see this they are either mind boggling stupid or just lying. Only one side is permitted context, and an actual motive for actual revenge. For the other side, revenge is off the table. For one side their rage is perfectly understandable, and it would only seem fair for it to be entertained. The other side have no grievance and are only exhibiting their innate barbarism. Until the high priests of this rampant nonsense get their come-uppance I see nothing but a downward slide for the UK as they have corrupted everything.