BOOM

Trending Searches

    Boom VIP
    BOOM

    Trending News

      • Fact Check 
        • Fast Check
      • Law
      • Explainers
      • News
      • Decode
      • BOOM Reports
      • Media Buddhi 
        • Digital Buddhi
        • Senior Citizens
        • Videos
      • Web Stories
      • Boom Money
      • Workshops
      • Videos
      • Home-icon
        Home
      • About Us-icon
        About Us
      • Authors-icon
        Authors
      • Team-icon
        Team
      • Careers-icon
        Careers
      • Internship-icon
        Internship
      • Contact Us-icon
        Contact Us
      • Methodology-icon
        Methodology
      • Correction Policy-icon
        Correction Policy
      • Non-Partnership Policy-icon
        Non-Partnership Policy
      • Cookie Policy-icon
        Cookie Policy
      • Grievance Redressal-icon
        Grievance Redressal
      • Republishing Guidelines-icon
        Republishing Guidelines
      • Fact Check-icon
        Fact Check
      • Law-icon
        Law
      • Explainers-icon
        Explainers
      • News-icon
        News
      • Decode-icon
        Decode
      • BOOM Reports-icon
        BOOM Reports
      • Media Buddhi-icon
        Media Buddhi
      • Web Stories-icon
        Web Stories
      • Boom Money-icon
        Boom Money
      • Workshops-icon
        Workshops
      • Videos-icon
        Videos
      • Home
      • Fact Check
      • Indian News Outlets Misidentify New...
      Fact Check

      Indian News Outlets Misidentify New Governor Of Afghanistan's Central Bank

      BOOM compared photos of Haji Mohammad Idris posted by Afghanistan's Central Bank with the viral photo and found that both are different people.

      By -  Anmol Alphonso & Dilip Unnikrishnan |
      9 Sep 2021 3:29 PM GMT
      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • Whatsapp
      • Telegram
      • Linkedin
      • Email
      • Print
      • link
      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • Whatsapp
      • Telegram
      • Linkedin
      • Email
      • Print
      • link
      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • Whatsapp
      • Telegram
      • Linkedin
      • Email
      • Print
      • link
    • Indian News Outlets Misidentify New Governor Of Afghanistans Central Bank

      Indian news outlets misidentified an unrelated photo of a Taliban fighter pictured with a gun sitting at an office desk and claimed it was a picture of Haji Mohammad Idris, the newly appointed acting governor of Afghanistan's central bank -- Da Afghanistan Bank.

      The Taliban recently announced a new interim government in Afghanistan with names that include wanted terror suspects and Islamist hardliners.

      BOOM compared photos of Haji Mohammad Idris alias Maulvi Abdul Qahir posted by Afghanistan's Central Bank with the viral photo and found that both do not match and are two different people. Additionally, we also reached out to an Afghan journalist who confirmed that the man pictured with a gun is not Idris but a common Talib.

      This is the latest instance where Indian news outlets have misrepresented images and videos on the crisis unfolding in Afghanistan after the takeover of the country by the hardline Islamist group.

      Also Read: Times Now Airs Video From Wales As Pak Fighter Jet Over Panjshir

      India Today and Aaj Tak aired a photo of a man sitting with his gun and a laptop at an office desk and claimed it showed the new interim governor Idris. The caption read, "Taliban appoints Haji Mohammad Idris as the new governor of the Afghanistan's central bank -- Da Afghanistan Bank."

      Click here to view, and here for an archive

      The same was also shared on India Today's Facebook page, and by its affiliate channel.


      Click here to view

      Click here to view, and here for an archive

      Other media outlets including Navbharat Times, Jansatta, News 18 Hindi, TV9 Hindi, Live Hindustan Zee Marathi also published the same viral photo misidentifying the man in the photo as Idris.


      Also Read:India Today Airs Old Photo Of US Jet Crash As Pak Jet Downed In Panjshir

      FACT-CHECK

      The photo used by Indian news outlets has been viral at least since August 18, 2021, with various captions stating that it shows a Taliban militant working with his gun, after the takeover of Afghanistan on August 15, 2021, by the Taliban.

      The photo was also doing the rounds on meme websites like 9gag with funny captions.


      The Facebook page of Afghanistan's central bank - Da Afghanistan Bank on August 23, 2021, posted photos of a meeting in which Idris can be seen sitting at the head of the table. The caption when translated also identifies the head of the bank as Haji Mohammad Idris also known as Maulvi Abdul Qahir.

      The translated posted reads, "...In this meeting, Mr. Molavi Abdul Qahir, who is famous for Haji Mohammad Idris as the head of Afghanistan Bank, Molvi Abdul Qadir is famous for Ahmad and Molavi Noor Ahmad Agha as the deputies of this bank..."

      Idris can also be seen in this photo tweeted by the Afghan central bank, wearing a black turban.

      د سوداګریزو بانکونو سره د همغږۍ غونډه
      --------
      جلسه‌ای هماهنگی با بانکهای تجارتیhttps://t.co/iTlSBxzJ4j pic.twitter.com/xFku8svYxR

      — Da Afghanistan Bank- Afghanistan (@AFGCentralbank) September 6, 2021

      On comparing the photo of the man with the gun and Idris's photo, it is clear that their facial features and structure do not match and that they are two different people.


      We also found reports with photos of Idris on his appointment as the new acting governor of the bank. The photo in the below report matches with the man in the photo posted by Da Afghanistan Bank.


      Click here to view

      BOOM reached out to a local journalist from Afghanistan who confirmed that the man in the viral photo is not Idris. He added that the man in the photo posted by Da Afghanistan Bank on Facebook is Idris's picture.

      "No, he is not head of the central bank. He is a common Talib," the local reporter told BOOM.

      A Reuters article citing a senior Taliban official said the following about Idris. "Idris is from the northern province of Jawzjan, and had long experience working on financial issues with the previous leader of the movement, Mullah Akhtar Mansour, who was killed in a drone strike in 2016. While Idris had no public profile outside the movement and no formal financial training or higher education, he was head of the movement's finance section and respected for his expertise."

      We were able to identify the blue flag seen in the viral photo as that of Afghanistan's revenue department suggesting the photo was taken at a government office. However, we could not establish the identity of the man.

      BOOM has been debunking viral misinformation and disinformation since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan. You can view our fact-check articles in the thread below.

      #Thread🚨: Post the takeover of #Kabul city and #Afghanistan by the #Taliban, @boomlive_in has debunked misinformation around the conflict with old and unrelated photos and videos being shared online. (1/n) 👇 #FakeNews #BOOMFactCheck

      — BOOM Live (@boomlive_in) August 17, 2021


      (Additional reporting by Swasti Chatterjee and Sujith A)


      Tags

      Fake News FactCheck Afghanistan India Today Afghanistan Bank Aaj Tak Taliban laptop gun 
      Read Full Article
      Claim :   Photo shows new Governor Of Afghanistan's Central Bank with a gun near his laptop
      Claimed By :  India Today, Aaj Tak
      Fact Check :  False

      Do you always want to share the authentic news with your friends?

      Subscribed Successfully...
      Enter Valid Email Id
      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • Whatsapp
      • Telegram
      • Linkedin
      • Email
      • Print
      • link
      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • Whatsapp
      • Telegram
      • Linkedin
      • Email
      • Print
      • link
      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • Whatsapp
      • Telegram
      • Linkedin
      • Email
      • Print
      • link
      Next Story
      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • Whatsapp
      • Telegram
      • Linkedin
      • Email
      • link
      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • Whatsapp
      • Telegram
      • Linkedin
      • Email
      • link
      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • Whatsapp
      • Telegram
      • Linkedin
      • Email
      • link
      Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors.
      Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker. Please reload after ad blocker is disabled.
      X
      X
      We use cookies for analytics, advertising and to improve our site. You agree to our use of cookies by continuing to use our site. To know more, see our Cookie Policy and Cookie Settings.Ok
      Or, Subscribe to receive latest news via email
      Subscribed Successfully...
      Copy HTMLHTML is copied!
      There's no data to copy!