An image of the front page of the Reporter newspaper has been circulating with a bold headline that reads, “TPLF [Tigray People’s Liberation Front] is facing a fierce protest in Mekele of Sebaa Anderta”. Different Facebook posts shared the image across the platform.
However, HaqCheck confirmed that the image of the front page of the newspaper was manipulated and given a fake story headline. The original Amharic headline that reads, “People Were Killed due to a conflict in two neighboring zones in Amhara region” is erased and replaced by a faked headline that reads, “TPLF is facing a fierce opposition in Mekelle of Sebaa Enderta”.
There have been image-related unconfirmed claims of public protest and opposition against TPLF happening in Mekelle and other towns in Tigray. A claim that emerged on Facebook last week reported that 57 people were killed due to a conflict between the residents of Mekelle and TPLF armed units in the city. The claim explained that the clash occurred when the residents of Mekelle tried to strike a protest.
The image on the front page of the Reporter newspaper with a front-page story headline indicated that residents of Mekelle and its surroundings were protesting against TPLF and expressing their objection to the TPLF rule.
However, the image is found to be manipulated and false. The image is manipulated in two ways; first, the actual headline was erased and replaced by a fake headline for the front-page article on the publication. Secondly, two body text columns of the front-page story are deleted and replaced by an image that shows civilians and uniformed men.
The original image from which the image is manipulated is the front page of the July 13 publication of the biweekly Amharic Reporter newspaper. The original article on the top front page of the publication is titled, “People were killed in a conflict in two neighboring zones in Amhara region” and there is no picture on the page along with that particular news article. The original front page of the publication can be found here.
Therefore, HaqCheck rated the claim False due to its use of a manipulated image as proof.
