Story By: Lee Bullen, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash
A mural of George Floyd that was spray-painted onto the bomb-ruined walls of an artist’s former home in Syria has reportedly been defaced by jihadists linked to Al-Qaeda.
Syrian street artists Aziz Al-Asmar and Anis Hamdoun painted the tribute to George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man who was killed by a white police officer on 25th May, on the bombed-out remains of Al-Asmar’s home in the city of Binnish in the opposition-held Syrian province of Idlib.
The area is controlled by Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) a militant group linked to Al-Qaeda and led by Abu Mohammad al-Julani.
Al-Asmar’s photo of the mural was widely shared on social media and he explained: “We are advocates of peace and freedom. We believe it is our duty to stand in solidarity with global humanitarian causes.”
A subsequent photo of the mural, showing black paint covering Floyd’s face, was posted on Twitter by netizen ‘Daesh Hunter’ who said: “It was defaced by local militants (probably by Al-Julani Militiamen) and text was added: “Our cause is more noble than this”.
“Al-Qaeda does not seem to like Western liberal-made Anti-Racism Platform.”
According to local media, although it is unclear who the perpetrators were, it is believed they were militants affiliated to Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), one of the strongest armed factions in the remaining opposition-held province.
Earlier this week, a mural paying tribute to Floyd was vandalised in the area of Hilltown in the Scottish city of Dundee.
The vandals painted out the word ‘black’ from ‘Black Lives Matter’ and the word ‘Floyd’.
They also painted a white Celtic cross, a well-known KKK symbol, over his face.
Graffiti artist Symon Mathieson said: “This is clearly someone with a ridiculous opinion, and I think it proves my point that racism still exists here.
“This is still a massive problem. I’m ashamed of the people of Dundee.”
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