How we document, how we verify, how we publish
The Black Museum is a professional documentation project — bound by strict working rules to ensure accuracy and responsibility, and treating memory as a trust rather than as a campaign.
The eight principles
No material without a source
Every document, testimony, or image is tied to a public or internally verified source — no exceptions.
Document, testimony, opinion — distinguished
Testimonies are shown as given; they are not presented as official documents.
Five tiers of verification
A transparent ladder that lets readers gauge their confidence in each fact.
Every fact linked to its source
Each item carries a reference or — where possible — a direct link to its original source.
Two review stages before publishing
Language and documentary reviews — independent — before any material appears in the museum.
Open right to correction and addition
We accept notes and corrections from any party, and adopt those that are properly documented.
No naming of individuals by real name
Except when they are publicly identified leaders cited by multiple rights sources.
Protection of sources is a top priority
We do not retain data that could expose our sources, and we provide secure submission channels.
The five verification tiers
Cross-referenced across multiple independent and reliable sources.
Documented by a single credible source pending independent corroboration.
First-hand testimony from a survivor or witness, presented as given.
Confirmed in part — some elements still under verification.
Not yet independently corroborated; included for review and follow-up.
Review path — from intake to publication
- 1Intake
Material arrives through a secure submission form or from an accredited editorial network.
- 2First screening
Removal of sensitive metadata and security/integrity checks.
- 3Cross-checking
Matching the incident with independent sources (reports, satellite imagery, other testimonies).
- 4Classification
Field, governorate, violation type, affected group, and verification level are assigned.
- 5Linking
Smart links to other files, documents, the map, the timeline, and journeys.
- 6Publication
Published with a transparent source card — and an always-open right to correction.
The right to correction is always open. We update any item as soon as a documented note is received.