Ben Roberts-Smith: Afghanistan war patrol photo from 2011 hides a chilling secret
It’s an iconic war photo of Ben Roberts-Smith on patrol in Afghanistan. But it hides a chilling secret
- Photo of Ben Roberts-Smith in Afghanistan emerges
- He wore a Crusader cross in the 2011 photo while on duty
- The symbol is provocative to Muslims given its history
A ‘manipulated’ photo of decorated Australian soldier Ben Roberts-Smith has resurfaced showing him wearing a controversial symbol during combat.
The photo, believed to be from 2011, shows Roberts-Smith in full combat gear and carrying an automatic weapon while serving in Afghanistan, and wearing a small shield around his neck.
In the version of the photo released by the Department of Defense, the shield around his neck was blank.
The photo – believed to be from 2011 – showed Roberts-Smith in full combat gear and carrying an automatic weapon while on duty in Afghanistan, wearing a small shield around his neck.
But the original version of the photo, obtained by Nine-Fairfax newspapers, shows Roberts-Smith wearing a Crusader cross.
The cross is a controversial symbol worn by Christian Crusaders in the 11th and 12th centuries when they invaded parts of the Middle East to wrest control of them from the Muslims.
many Muslims now find the symbol offensive. Wearing it by a Western soldier in a predominantly Muslim country would be considered a particularly provocative act.
At the time the unaltered photo emerged, the Department of Defense explained that it “does not approve or permit the use, display or endorsement of symbols, emblems and iconography that are inconsistent with Defense Values.”
The original version of the photo shows Roberts-Smith wearing a Crusader cross, a controversial historical symbol for Muslims