pow photograph — pow photograph — A photograph circulating online, depicting two blindfolded men believed to be Greek Cypriot prisoners of war from 1974, has been confirmed as authentic by Turkish journalist Selim Esen, who appears in the image.
Photo: cyprus-mail.com
The Cyprus Independent Reporting Network (Ciren) reached out to Esen after doubts about the photograph’s authenticity arose on social media. The image, which has also been circulated in enhanced and colourised forms, is part of Esen’s personal archive.
Pow photograph: Insights from a First-Hand Witness
Esen, who was a reporter for the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) during the invasion of Cyprus, shared his recollections with Ciren. He stated, “The person on the right in civilian clothes is me,” confirming his presence in the photograph taken on August 14, 1974, in Mia Milia during the second phase of Operation Attila.
He recounted that the civilian next to the blindfolded man on the left is likely a member of the Turkish Resistance Organisation (TMT). The photograph was captured by one of his cameraman colleagues, Vedat Gures or Sonat Konor, who accompanied him to Cyprus.
The Photograph’s Journey and Its Importance
Initially shared by researcher Odysseas Christou on May 4, the image shows three men standing in front of a black Mercedes, with a blindfolded individual positioned between a civilian and an armed soldier. Subsequent digital checks by Ciren revealed mixed results from AI detection tools, indicating potential manipulation in the edited versions circulating online.
The photograph has also been seen in a cropped black and white format, which includes additional figures and another blindfolded person. The Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) reports a total of 2,002 missing persons from the period of 1963 to 1974, with 933 still unaccounted for, highlighting the urgency of identifying those captured during this tumultuous time.
Encouraging Witness Testimony
Christou, who aims to use the material to stimulate witness testimony, emphasised that the goal is not merely to assess the photograph but to identify the blindfolded prisoner. He noted, “The more time passes, the less chances of determining their fate,” stressing the critical nature of public interest in these cases.
While the CMP has acknowledged awareness of the photograph, it has refrained from commenting on ongoing investigations. Representatives of the relatives of missing persons have welcomed the attention but cautioned that unofficial identification efforts can lead to confusion, as some initially believed to involve missing individuals were later found to pertain to prisoners of war released after 1974.
Ongoing Research and Verification
As researchers delve deeper into the photograph’s provenance, efforts are underway to verify the identities connected to the image. The process remains complex, and with new leads emerging through the power of social media, the hope is that more information will come to light, aiding in the quest for closure for many families affected by these historical events.
