(Feb 15, 2012, Ha'aretz)--A picture of a nude Ethiopian woman caused a storm after it was posted to Facebook by an Israeli photojournalist and documentarian. Disgusted viewers posted remarks slamming the photographer, Ziv Koren, accusing him of taking advantage of the woman - a new immigrant - who pictured bathing in a mikve at a Jewish agency camp.
Internet surfers questioned whether the photographer asked the woman for permission to take and publish the photo, and said the authenticity of any consent would be questionable, given her vulnerable status at the time it was taken.
"That woman probably doesn't know Hebrew, and whoever translated surely didn't explain that it was artistic photography and that she should feel free to refuse," wrote one Internet surfer, adding that "it must be understood what's going on with the Falashmura [immigrants], they are passed on the message in simplistic words or hints, that if they refuse to participate in the religious ceremonies they won't be accepted to make aliyah to Israel."
The photo was taken in 2006 as part of a documentary project on Falashmura immigrants. Some of the photos from Koren's collection appeared in an exhibition put on by the Jewish Agency.
In response to the uproar on Facebook, Koren – who claimed to receive threats and demands to remove the photo – took the picture off the Internet on Tuesday morning. He said he took the photo down not as a result of pressure, but out of concern for the safety of the photographed woman. Read more from Ha'aretz »
Internet surfers questioned whether the photographer asked the woman for permission to take and publish the photo, and said the authenticity of any consent would be questionable, given her vulnerable status at the time it was taken.
"That woman probably doesn't know Hebrew, and whoever translated surely didn't explain that it was artistic photography and that she should feel free to refuse," wrote one Internet surfer, adding that "it must be understood what's going on with the Falashmura [immigrants], they are passed on the message in simplistic words or hints, that if they refuse to participate in the religious ceremonies they won't be accepted to make aliyah to Israel."
The photo was taken in 2006 as part of a documentary project on Falashmura immigrants. Some of the photos from Koren's collection appeared in an exhibition put on by the Jewish Agency.
In response to the uproar on Facebook, Koren – who claimed to receive threats and demands to remove the photo – took the picture off the Internet on Tuesday morning. He said he took the photo down not as a result of pressure, but out of concern for the safety of the photographed woman. Read more from Ha'aretz »
No comments:
Post a Comment