NYT Faces Backlash Over Graphic Images of Nairobi Attack

New York Times (NYT) faced a huge backlash over their article "Shabab Claim Responsibility for Deadly Assault on Nairobi Hotel-Office Complex" which covered the recent Nairobi attacks. 

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Kenya: Upscale Hotel Under Attack With Heavy Gunfire

At least 15 people have been killed and 30 wounded Tuesday following an attack on a luxury hotel complex in Kenya’s capital Nairobi.

Heavy gunfire exchange and multiple explosions continued for some 12 hours, spilling over into early Wednesday as security personnel engaged the four gunmen, who — according to Reuters, citing police officials — launched explosives at vehicles prior to detonating devices attached to their bodies.

Kenyan security forces killed the militants Wednesday.

The NYT article by its East Africa bureau chief Kimiko de Freytas-Tamura included photos of injured people and dead bodies which angered the Kenyans.

The graphic images generated social media anger and started a virtual protest calling for deporting Kimiko in a viral hashtag #DeportKimiko.

Kenyans felt that the images used by NYT were disrespectful towards black Africans and biased against them as, according to them, such images are never used in coverage of the United States. Soon after that, another hashtag #SomeoneTellNYTimes started, showing how the community came forward to help the victims.

NYT tweeted a response defending the use of the images.

"It is important to give our readers a clear picture of the horror of an attack like this. This includes showing pictures that are not sensationalized but that give a real sense of the situation."

A netizen, in response, wrote that “#SomeoneTellNYtimes we do not need your sensationalized photos to "get the picture". We have family, friends, fellow Kenyans who have lived the nightmare of terrorism. Some are gone forever. You are a disgrace. Disrespectful.”