logo
Dutch photojournalist recording Kurdish history re-visits Kurdistan

Dutch photojournalist recording Kurdish history re-visits Kurdistan

Rudaw Net3 days ago
Also in Kurdistan
Halabja tomato farmers face mounting losses as prices fall
TNT blast kills shepherd in Duhok
KRG receives May salaries from Baghdad
Akre figs face tough season as yields drop, prices fall
A+ A-
Dutch photojournalist Michiel Hegener, known for his photographs of the Kurdish revolutionary movement in the 1970s, returns to Kurdistan. Dressed in the same Kurdish attire he wore decades ago, he is revisiting the places and people he captured in his iconic images.
Hegener spent years documenting the struggles of the Kurdish people, from the mountains and villages to the caves and cities, listening to countless personal accounts and creating a photographic record that has become a vital part of Kurdish history.
Among those he photographed is legendary Kurdish leader Mullah Mustafa Barzani. Barzani led several revolutions against the Iraqi government during the 1960s and 1970s.
Through his lens, Hegener not only captured moments of political and social upheaval but also gave a voice to the Kurdish people's fight for autonomy, making his photographs and writings essential documents in understanding their history.
Producer: Sirwan Rahim
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

24 Raparin migrants returned to Kurdistan Region after one month detention in Libya
24 Raparin migrants returned to Kurdistan Region after one month detention in Libya

Rudaw Net

timean hour ago

  • Rudaw Net

24 Raparin migrants returned to Kurdistan Region after one month detention in Libya

Also in Kurdistan President Barzani urges Baghdad to facilitate Yazidi returns on genocide anniversary Suicide drone targets Erbil; no casualties Assyrian Christians trek to ancient church in Duhok Erbil university offers scholarship for international students A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - In the spring of their lives, 24 individuals from the Raparin administration who had set out on the path of migration with dreams of a better future were returned to the Kurdistan Region after being detained for a month in Libya. "We were 24 Kurdish people. We were held in four very small cells; each room was two meters long and one meter wide, and they had put four people in each cell,' Bahroz Ali told Rudaw on Tuesday about the poor treatment and conditions of the prisons in Libya. 'We still don't know what charges we were arrested on," Ali said. A Europe-based migrant rights activist, Ranj Pishdari, told Rudaw that more than 300 young people from Pishdar district and surrounding areas in eastern Raparin are leaving each week. The Libya-Italy route has become the preferred path over the more traditional Turkey-Greece corridor due to increased border restrictions and longer crossing times. "The smuggler deceived us. After we were arrested [in Libya], he never came back to us, while we had paid him three thousand dollars to reach Libya," Daniyar Ali told Rudaw, denying the claims of the smuggler for attempts to follow up on their condition,' he never reached out to follow up on our condition.' According to information obtained by Rudaw, one of the most influential smugglers currently operating in Libya is a Kurd originally from Raparin, identified by the initials H.K. Though based in Europe, he has temporarily relocated to Libya to oversee smuggling operations and organize sea crossings for Kurdish migrants. Another surviving migrant highlighted the poor conditions and mistreatment in Libyan prisons, describing them as another bitter chapter in the story of these migrants. 'We were in really bad conditions. We were tortured and mentally abused. They were really bad with us.' Abdullah Idris, another migrant, said. The wave of youth migration through Libya has made the work of the Iraqi embassy in that country more difficult. Musanna Amin, a member of the Iraqi Council of Representatives who played a key role in the release of these migrants, gives a warning regarding the issue. "In Libya, most areas are under the control of armed groups. The route that young people migrate through is a very dangerous route, and annually, several migrants become victims in that country and lose their lives." Muthanna Ali, a member of the Iraqi Council of Representatives who played a key role in the release of these migrants, said. 'We have received many dead bodies from Libya to the Kurdistan Region,' he stressed. Libya remains a major transit country for migrants due to its strategic location and proximity to Italy. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that around 719,000 migrants were registered in Libya in 2024. Crossing the Mediterranean is one of the deadliest migrant routes. According to the IOM, more than 31,700 people have died or gone missing at sea since 2014. Thousands of Kurds attempt the perilous journey to Europe each year, with many passing through Libya. The migration wave from Qaladze - the administrative center and capital of Pishdar - and other areas in the district is largely fueled by high unemployment and limited economic opportunities, despite the region's agricultural potential. The Kurdistan Region has witnessed repeated waves of youth migration over the past decade, largely driven by economic hardship and the search for better opportunities abroad. Abubakr Ismael contributed to this article.

Iraqi PM orders probe after Baghdad clash
Iraqi PM orders probe after Baghdad clash

Shafaq News

timean hour ago

  • Shafaq News

Iraqi PM orders probe after Baghdad clash

Shafaq News – Baghdad Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani ordered, on Tuesday, a high-level investigation into corruption allegations against a senior agriculture official in Baghdad's al-Karkh district, accused of triggering a recent armed standoff with Iran-aligned militants. According to the Prime Minister's Media Office, a special committee—led by the Deputy President of the Federal Board of Supreme Audit and including members from the Federal Commission of Integrity and al-Sudani's staff—has been tasked with overseeing the inquiry. The panel will examine complaints from farmers and agricultural workers in al-Dora and nearby areas, focusing on claims of land seizures and misconduct, with findings to be delivered directly to al-Sudani for legal action. This decision follows a deadly clash at the Ministry of Agriculture's al-Dora office over the weekend, after which authorities detained the former director for allegedly orchestrating the violence and committing administrative violations.

EXCLUSIVE: US concerned over Baghdad clash
EXCLUSIVE: US concerned over Baghdad clash

Shafaq News

timean hour ago

  • Shafaq News

EXCLUSIVE: US concerned over Baghdad clash

Shafaq News – Baghdad The United States expressed deep concern on Tuesday over the deadly July 27 clash in Baghdad's al-Dora district between Iraqi security forces and Kataib Hezbollah, a powerful faction within the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). In an exclusive statement to Shafaq News, State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce denounced the actions of Iran-backed groups operating under the PMF, including those designated as terrorist organizations by the US. 'These groups continue to engage in unlawful, destabilizing, and violent activities that undermine Iraq's sovereignty and threaten regional stability,' Bruce warned, urging the Iraqi government to 'bring these perpetrators and their leaders to justice without delay.' She also extended condolences to the families of the victims killed in the exchange. Earlier, Iraq's Joint Operations Command reported that the confrontation began when armed Kataib Hezbollah affiliates stormed the Ministry of Agriculture office in al-Dora over a leadership dispute, prompting resistance from supporters of the outgoing official and triggering gunfire. The shootout injured twelve people, including ministry staff and police, and led to the arrest of fourteen suspects tied to Kataib Hezbollah, who were referred to the judiciary. On Monday, the US Embassy in Baghdad directly accused Kataib Hezbollah of leading Sunday's armed standoff at the ministry's office. Kataib Hezbollah denied involvement, described the incident as 'regrettable,' and blamed the escalation on internal security force tensions, claiming an officer named Omar al-Obaidi fired the first shots.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store