Update on Snuff Tape/Photos

I had previously written about Rahmatullah Naikzad, who apparently was in the right place at the right time to video and photograph the Taliban murdering two women. He claims that the Taliban sent out pressers to media outlets calling them to attend the execution and that he checked with the AP office, which approved.

He also claims that he tried to intervene with the Taliban but was rebuffed. The women were brutally murdered.

The next morning, he said, he consulted with the AP, because he wanted to return to the village and photograph the women’s bodies. He said the AP agreed and he rode back to the scene of the executions.

Villagers stood nearby as he filmed and photographed the corpses. A stream of dried blood trailed from one body. The other woman’s shopping bag remained near her, its contents scattered.

“There was a beige handbag and a comb … a mirror and some cosmetics in it,” Naikzad said.

Naikzad said he was detained for two days after his video appeared on the Internet, but that he was released for three days following the death of a relative. He said he was treated well in custody, and that he is cooperating with the National Directorate of Security, the agency that interrogated him.

“Around 60 pages of investigative material were produced from my interrogation,” he said.

“I am willingly going back into custody once the bail period ends,” he said, adding, “I have nothing to fear.”

Some bloggers who have seen the video of the executions have expressed concerns that Naikzad may be connected with the Taliban, and that the Associated Press was used as a propaganda tool.

The fact is that the AP was used as a propaganda tool. The Taliban purposefully sought out the AP and other media outlets, and they allowed a stringer to be sent along to photograph the event.

It wasn't what the Taliban claimed it would be, which shouldn't surprise anyone either. (HT: Jorline at LGF)