Flotilla Fallout: Shahidul Alam’s Detention Sparks Disinformation and Digital Forensics Debate

Renowned Bangladeshi photographer and rights activist Dr. Shahidul Alam, who joined the Gaza-bound flotilla Conscience, had earlier stated that the voyage’s main purpose was “not to deliver humanitarian aid, but to break the blockade.” However, on August 8, he was detained during the mission that began on September 28. Until his capture by Israeli forces from the Conscience vessel in the Mediterranean’s Gaza coastal red zone, Alam had been posting frequent updates on Facebook. Following his detention, his page has been managed by his administrators, who described the abduction as “another war crime” in a statement shared by the Global Sumud Flotilla—a coalition of 500 activists participating in the mission to challenge Israel’s blockade of Gaza.

While Alam’s verified Facebook page did not share any images of his alleged abduction, a photograph claiming to show his arrest went viral online. However, fact-checkers later determined the image to be artificial.

Digital forensic expert Tanvir Hasan Zoha, after analyzing the circulated image showing Alam surrounded by four Zionist soldiers, stated, “At first glance, like many others, I thought it might be real. Generative AI technology has advanced so much that it’s often difficult to distinguish between real and fabricated visuals from a single image. But later, multiple versions of the same background appeared—where the soldiers’ positions, lighting, shadows, and even the sea in the background remained identical, except for changes in the front person’s face and clothing. This consistency clearly proves the images were manipulated. My earlier assumption was based on limited information; the current analysis is conclusive—this image is not real, it is a misleading visual.”

Meanwhile, BanglaFact, the fact-check and media research unit of the Press Institute Bangladesh (PIB), verified that the video message released from the Gaza-bound flotilla featuring Dr. Shahidul Alam was pre-recorded but not fabricated. Still, misinformation began circulating on social media soon after the video’s release.

Former Deputy Press Secretary to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Md. Ashraful Alam Khokon, shared a screenshot of the video with a sarcastic remark: “If he has been detained, how could Shahidul Alam record and post a video?” Similar misleading claims were propagated from several Facebook pages affiliated with the Awami League.

According to BanglaFact’s investigation team, international media outlets including Al Jazeera, Associated Press, BBC, and The Times of Israel have confirmed that passengers aboard the Conscience ship were detained by Israeli forces. Both the Global Sumud Flotilla and Israeli authorities publicly acknowledged the arrest.

In the widely discussed video, Alam is heard saying, “If you are watching this video…”—clearly indicating it was pre-recorded. Activists joining such flotillas typically record these messages in advance to ensure their release if detained. In June of this year, participants of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s Madleen vessel had similarly released pre-recorded messages through their social media accounts after being arrested.

BanglaFact further reported that about two hours before posting the much-debated video, Shahidul Alam had uploaded another 1-minute-15-second video captioned “Israelis approaching conscience,” confirming that the flotilla passengers were aware of the Israeli approach. A subsequent announcement on Alam’s Facebook page stated that until his release, the account would be managed by Bangladesh Stands With Palestine and Free Shahidul activist groups.

According to BanglaFact, the spread of misinformation surrounding Alam’s detention appears to be a coordinated attempt to discredit him. The fact-check organization noted that as Shahidul Alam has long been vocal against oppression and the repressive policies of the former Awami League government, he has now become a target of deliberate disinformation campaigns.