Handwriting in the Wound: A Philological and Paleographic Critique of a War Narrative in The Guardian
Authors: Luwam Habte Abera, Aklilu Amanuel Tecleab
Abstract
This article presents a philological and paleographic analysis of a contentious war narrative published in The Guardian on June 30, 2025, detailing alleged sexual violence during the Tigray War. By closely examining a purported handwritten note reportedly found inside a survivor’s womb, the study interrogates the authenticity of the report’s textual evidence. The findings highlight lexical anomalies, orthographic inconsistencies, and paleographic markers that challenge the report’s credibility and reveal possible elements of political propaganda. This work underscores the importance of manuscript culture studies in understanding how scripts and writing styles contribute to cultural identity and the politics of representation in conflict documentation.
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