Did the N.Y. Times Misidentify Abu Ghraib Detainee?

Posted on Mar 14, 2006

From the New York Times

The New York Times ran a story on March 11 asserting that the man pictured above, Ali Shalal Qaissi, was the detainee depicted in a notorious image of prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib. But Salon.com has presented the paper with strong evidence that that photo actually depicted another detainee, and the Times is investigating the claim.

Salon.com presents exclusive evidence that The New York Times incorrectly identified—in a Page 1 story!—the hooded detainee shown in one of the most iconic abuse photos from the notorious Iraqi prison. (Hat tip: Huff Po)

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March 14, 2006 | WASHINGTON—The New York Times announced Monday night that it would review the accuracy of a recent Page One story that claimed to identify the hooded detainee shown in one of the most iconic photos of abuse from Abu Ghraib, after Salon presented evidence suggesting that the paper had identified the wrong man.

In an apparent scoop on Saturday, the Times reported that Ali Shalal Qaissi, a former Baath Party member, had been photographed standing on a cardboard box, hooded, with his arms spread, a blanket around his shoulders and electrical wires extending from his hands.

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