LocationsLight against Darkness, Peace against War, Hope against Conflict
September 20, 2024
Light is hope. It enlightens its surroundings, inspires people, and guides them through the path. In Mesopotamia, light has been the symbol of hope and knowledge. It is the power of the Sun God, Shamash, who divines insight, knowledge, and protection against chaos and darkness. It is peace against war.
Ninewa, Diyala, Salah Al-Din, Anbar, Kirkuk, and many other ancient Mesopotamian towns are places where the first civilizations flourished, and where centuries-old legends were passed down from generation to generation. In this region, Gilgamesh explored the mysteries of life and death, Hammurabi established the first legal code, and Ishtar, the ancient goddess of love, was revered. This land has witnessed many "firsts" in human history.
ISIL's invasion of these lands displaced 4.9 million people, shattered communities, and destroyed ancient towns, impacting millions of Iraqis. Since the liberation in 2017, life has been difficult, but slowly, the communities are recovering and wounds are healing.
A peaceful, just, and joyful life is what the people of these rich lands desire and deserve. Expressing this desire through light has been the aim of communities gathered in Erbil, Iraq.
Photography is a form of expression, and what better way to capture this desire than through light—a symbol of hope against darkness? Asia, Abdelrahman, Ayat, Nooraldin, Zaid, Hawra, and other young women and men came together. From Anbar, Diyala, Salahadin, Nainawa, and Kirkuk, they gathered to deliver a message on International Peace Day.
Ayat Abas from Kirkuk: No matter how small, every action we take contributes to building a more peaceful society. We need to be kind, understanding, and cooperative with each other. This is the only way to co-exist and live happily together.
Abdelrahman Al Esawi: As communities affected by the recent war, we support empowering each other and hope to contribute to peace. But to overcome the darkness, everyone should have access to equal rights, opportunities, and security, regardless of who we are and where we come from.
Asia Salam from Diyala: Through photography, painting, or talking, we need to build a dialogue with each other. Openness and empathy are key for understanding our differences and creating peaceful communities.
Nooraldin Al Hamdani from Anbar: 60% of this country is under the age of 30. Without meaningful participation of us, the youth, we can’t talk about a peaceful future. Youth is the power; our creativity and talents will create a better and more peaceful world.
Zaid Al Wesi from Ninewa: Talking is not the only way of expression and dialogue. Photography can overcome some barriers we might have. It can convey collective emotion and stories, help build empathy and understanding, which are the essentials of building peace.
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Haydar Arkan Jawad (Left) and Hawra Saad (Right) from Diyala: "No matter the challenge, when we stand together, there’s no mountain we can’t climb or sea we can’t cross. Without peace, no one can thrive, and we must exist in harmony with all our differences."
As community members affected by the past conflicts and the invasion of ISIL, their hope for the future is bright, their demand is solid. Together, they used light to write the word “peace,” expressing their desire for a society free from conflict—one where everyone enjoys equal rights and opportunities.
The Peace against War photography workshop was carried out with the participation of the Youth and Women Groups which were established by UNDP to help women and young people take part in making their communities safer and stronger.
These groups are found in five areas of Iraq which were liberated from ISIL invasion: Anbar, Diyala, Salahadin, Nainawa, and Kirkuk. Funded by the Government of Denmark, Government of Canada and Government of Germany, members of these groups work together to solve peace-related problems, helping people reintegrate into their communities, and even address climate change. They are trained in important skills like teamwork, leadership, and planning projects. After the training, the groups carry out projects to help their communities, such as teaching others about women’s rights or helping those in need. Since 2020, they have completed over 100 community based initiatives, helping more than 96,000 people, and they are still working on 40 more projects today.