Sophie J Williamson on the case of Khaled Mohamed Saeed

Following Khaled Mohamed Saeed’s death at the hands of Egyptian police officers, his family’s decision to release a striking montage of photographs showing him before and after death catalysed mass protests and ultimately revolution. Does the subsequent proliferation of poster images through protestors’ networks highlight the urgent power of the image when embedded within grassroots movements?

‘The viral image is outside the scope of the law so it facilitates the construction of anonymous global networks and a shared history that political institutions are incapable of regulating.’