This Photo Was Taken During an Anti-government Protest in Algeria
The Claim
A photo depicts a revolution against COVID-19 restrictions in Algeria.
News posted on
Emerging story
Facebook and Twitter users posted a picture claiming it shows a revolution against COVID-19 restrictions in Algeria. The photo shows a crowded street with people waving the Algerian flag.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar’s investigation found that this post is fake news. The picture was taken during a protest in the capital of Algiers in 2019. The protest was against the re-election of former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
Our team noticed that the picture was already shared on many Facebook pages and profiles one year earlier; it was taken even before Algeria reported its first case of Coronavirus in February 2020.
Mediapart and International Socialists Website previously published the picture. The circulating image takes place in Avenue El Khettabi, where demonstrators were protesting in March 2019.
