#PresidentialPropaganda: Assad’s Squeaky Clean Instagram Account
Cheery images show Assad and his wife in a charitable light.
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Worth 1,000 Words - Since late July, cheery images of President Bashar al-Assad and his wife, Asma, interacting with the Syrian people have surged on the Syrian president’s Instagram account. Missing among the smiling faces were images from the devastating chemical weapon attack that killed more than 1,400 civilians last month. Keep reading for a closer look at what some are calling outright propaganda. —Patrice Peck(Photo: Syrianpresidency via Instagram)
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Assad’s Side of Syria - So far, the Syrian president’s account has uploaded 143 photographs to its 37,856 followers. Each image places Assad and the first lady in familiar, humanizing settings, showing them in a light contrary to the one being cast by the U.S. government and media.(Photo: Syrianpresidency via Instagram)
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True or False? - Many have branded Assad’s Instagram account propaganda and claimed that the images posted are not an accurate illustration of what is happening in Syria. More than 110,000 Syrians have died since March 2011 when the conflict began, reported a Syrian watchdog. A shocking chemical weapon attack on Aug. 21 thrust the nation onto the international stage.(Photo: AP Photo/Local Committee of Arbeen)
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Would This Image Get Any Likes? - When the attack first occurred, no confirmations had been made as to whether internationally banned chemicals were used or who launched and authorized the strike. A convoy of U.N. chemical inspectors confirmed that chemical weapons were used, but refused to disclose who had launched the weapon. The U.S., Germany, France and other world powers have charged the Syrian government for the attack.(Photo: JM LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Photo By JM LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images
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The Star of @SyrianPresidency - In this image, Assad’s British-Syrian wife, Asma, comforts an injured woman. A majority of the images featured on the account spotlights the first lady as she serves her husband’s constituents in a warm and charitable manner.(Photo: Syrianpresidency via Instagram)
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