Media watcdog a accuses New York times of twisting facts on flotilla charity group

American corporate media, known for their strong pro-Israeli stance, continue to twist facts on events surrounding the deadly Israeli raid in May on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla which killed nine Turks (including one Turkish-American). In a bid to fabricate links between the Humanitarian Aid Foundation (IHH), the organization behind the aid convoy, and al-Qaeda, the American press has published reports presenting the IHH as a terrorist group in the guise of an aid organization. The latest attempt appeared on the pages of the prestigious New York Times when an article titled "Sponsor of Flotilla Tied to Elite of Turkey" conflated two different IHHs, one based in Turkey, the other in Germany. Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting (FAIR), a media watchdog based in New York, said ever since the Israeli raid, there have been many attempts in the American press, following Israel's lead, to label the Turkish humanitarian group IHH a supporter of terrorism. FAIR said the German-based IHH, which has recently been banned, has nothing to do with the Turkish group sharing the same acronym. "It looks like the reporters on this story didn't do their homework," said a statement posted on FAIR's website. "Numerous news outlets have noted that the German organization, which shares the Turkish group's initials, is not connected to the Turkish group that co-sponsored the aid flotilla, meaning that Germany did not ban the Turkish group over 'terrorist' ties. The Turkish group's initials stand for Insan Hak ve Hurriyetleri (Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms); the German acronym stands for Internationale Humanitare Hilfsorganisation, the International Humanitarian Aid Organization," FAIR said.