Week 4: Case Study
In the past ten years, with the emergence of multiple wars within Middle Eastern countries such as Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan and unrest in some African Nations, there has been an influx of refugees to Europe and North America. The world refugee crisis is ever-growing and has been the “largest displacement of people since World War II” (Raghavan and Tharoor, 2015). The response to the refugee crisis has been both positive and negative. Countries like Canada have tried to help by allowing 25,000 Syrian refugees to enter in the span of 3 months (Austen, 2015). Whereas in 2017, when Donald Trump signed an executive order to halt travel from “Muslim-majority countries” to fulfill his electoral promises to “make America great again” (Trump’s Executive Order: Who Does the Trave Ban Affect?, 2017).
The photo of three-year-old Aylan on the beaches of Turkey highlights the issues that arise with war. The publication of this photo has made many question the ethics of publishing graphic images of war’s effects. Pictures like these that are posted have the potential to cause harm. Abdullah Kurdi is the least cared for person within this situation. After losing his wife and two sons, having the body of his recently deceased son is not something any parent wants to see. Having the entire world see a child in such a vulnerable state is a traumatizing thing. The lack of consideration for the family shows poor ethics of care.
People are fascinated by war. Those who view it as something that can never happen to them only exist in far off lands. When photographers release these sorts of images, it humanizes war. It shows the rest of the world that refugees are more than just asylum seekers; they are people. Showing 3-year-old Aylan body on the shores is almost the same as the picture of Kim Phuc in 1972. As discussed in class, the historic photo played a significant role in changing the Vietnam War’s public perspective leading to its end. In the same manner, Aylan Kurdi “has become the most visible symbol of the refugee crisis” (Raghavan and Tharoor, 2015). Drowning in the Mediterranean in hopes of seeking asylum is something many know too well. Even today, thousands of refugees still face this crisis; however, making it to shore does not guarantee success. In the middle of August, the news broke that Greece had sailed 1,072 migrants on inflatable boats with little to no chance for survival in the Adriatic sea, but they were rescued by the Turkish Coast Guard (Al-Arshani, 2020). The challenges that many refugees face still exist to this day.
If I were the person that took this photo, I would publish it. I understand the negative impacts that it could potentially have on the family. However, if a picture like this can be used to prevent countless other people and children from dying, I would do it in a heartbeat. I understand that I would place the father’s needs to the side, but if this could potentially change people’s views on the refugee crisis, it takes precedent.
#COMMETHICSWEEK4
Citations
Al-Arshani, S. (2020, August 19). Greece has secretly sent away more than 1,000 migrants, taking them to the edge of the country’s territorial waters and then abandoning them at sea. Retrieved from https://www.insider.com/migrants-abandoned-at-sea-by-greece-past-few-months-2020-8
Austen, I. (2015, December 11). Syrian Refugees Greeted by Justin Trudeau in Canada. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/12/world/americas/syria-refugees-arrive-in-canada.html
Raghavan, S., & Tharoor, I. (2015, September 03). The saga of the Syrian family whose 3-year-old turned up dead on a Turkish beach. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/the-saga-of-the-syrian-family-whose-3-year-old-turned-up-dead-on-a-turkish-beach/2015/09/03/4a82ed56-5251-11e5-b225-90edbd49f362_story.html
Trump’s executive order: Who does travel ban affect? (2017, February 10). Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38781302
