Claim: A photograph shows a woman and children who were shot by the Taliban in the city of Mazar-e-Sharif for driving past the Tir checkpoint.
Fact: The photograph is from 2022 when more than 23 people died in Murree due to prolonged exposure to extreme cold.
In early May 2024, several social media users shared an image they claim shows a woman and children who were shot by the Taliban in the city of Mazar-e-Sharif for driving past the Tir checkpoint.
The image has a photograph of the family with the following text in Persian:
طالبان یک خانم راننده را در شهر مزار تیر باران کردند
[Translation: Taliban shot a female driver in Mazar city]
The mage is accompanied by the following caption:
گروه طالبان تروریست یک خانم را با سه کودک اش در شهر مزار شریف به جرم رانندگی در ایست بازرسی تیر باران کردند .
[Translation: The terrorist group Taliban shot a woman and her three children in Mazar-e-Sharif city for the crime of driving at Tir checkpoint.]
Fact or Fiction?
Through a reverse image search of the photograph, Soch Fact Check found that it was first shared in a news bulletin from 24 News HD. The bulletin shows a video clip recorded by the family shown in the photograph.
A video shared on Facebook on 9 January 2022 shows a recording of the inside of the same car where rescue workers are attempting to rescue anyone who has not already passed away. Looking at the family shown in the photograph in the claim, the workers ask one another, “Are they all expired?”, and as they check they confirm in the same video, “Yes, they are all expired.”
This clearly proves that the photograph is being falsely associated with a fabricated incident where the Taliban shot a woman and her three children.
Murree tragedy
In January 2022, more than 22 domestic tourists died as they were all stranded in snow. Almost four feet of snow trapped several vehicles, blocking the route and making it impossible for many of them to head back home.
Around 157,665 vehicles entered Murree between 6 January 2022 and 7 January 2022, despite warnings of adverse weather conditions by the Pakistan Meteorological Department. Among the 22 reported dead, there were 10 men, 10 children and 2 women.
Virality
On X the claim was viewed more than 18,900 times.
On Facebook it was shared here.
Conclusion: An image falsely associated with the Taliban, actually shows a family who died in freezing temperatures in Murree in 2022.
—
Background image in cover photo: ABC News
To appeal against our fact-check, please send an email to appeals@sochfactcheck.com