The AP Photographer Just Stood There While the Taliban Murdered Two Afghan Women

by Phyllis Chesler
Pajamas Media
July 15, 2008

http://www.phyllis-chesler.com/317/the-ap-photographer-just-stood-there-while

Excerpt:

Congratulations to My Pet Jawa for asking the right questions about the AP photographer, Basmatullah Naikzad, who just stood there and watched as the Taliban murdered two women. But Naikzad did not just stand there–he also photographed the murder and then made money and gained international credit when AP ran his photo. Perhaps he shared the loot with the Taliban in return for being allowed to take photographs.

Well, what else could he have done? Tried to stop the Taliban? Refused to document it? Granted, some of our reactions might be “prurient” but some reactions are sorrowful and righteously indignant. I have always been queasy about watching someone’s death. (Read Wendy Lesser’s excellent 1994 book Pictures At An Execution, about the lawsuit KQED brought in order to film a state execution live–a suit which was denied).

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