How do you see Iraq through your lens: Social Cohesion Photo Contest

Art and Literature 02:16 PM - 2022-02-18

In November 2021, the UNDP Social Cohesion Program in Iraq launched a photography competition that allows Iraqis to showcase their photography skills on what brings Iraqis together.

Now more than ever, after the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important to find support and strength from family, friends, and neighbors.

Five winners were selected based on criteria including creativity, originality, relevance to the topic, and inspiration.

A group of Sabean-Mandaeans performing rituals on the banks of the Tigris River to celebrate Prosperity Day.

"This picture represents the diversity of Iraqi society, the diversity of its sects, and the freedom of all sects to practice their religious rites."

- Murtada Reda Jassim, 31, Baghdad

"This picture of the Iraqi Marshes represents the sharing of work between father and son in fishing, which is evidence of the importance of support and social cohesion between family members to provide livelihoods."

- Abbas Raad Al-Asadi, 24, Dhi Qar.

"On the first day of spring (Newroz), we can't leave the house because of the quarantine, so we decided to spend our time relaxing with the family on the roof of the house and sip boiling tea."

"Due to the spread of the global epidemic COVID-19, the Iraqi Kurdistan government issued quarantine orders as of March 15, 2020, to avoid the spread of infection. However, the quarantine measures to mitigate the impact of the epidemic had social and economic repercussions on the daily life of the Kurdish people."

- Younis Muhammad, 53, years old, Erbil.

“Pirshaliar Festival: It is a Kurdish cultural celebration that takes place every year on the first Wednesday of February in the middle of winter in the Hawraman region. The celebration expresses the joy and happiness of all the five villages in the region, which include Kamala, Rohri, Jimi, Isya, Horman Takht and Sarpir on the occasion of the meeting of the region’s parliament.” who elects a board to manage the affairs of the five villages. This parliament is run by two Sufi teams, Sheikh Othman al-Naqshbandi, and the dervishes of the region. The parliament was formed more than 900 years ago and holds its sessions annually. This ceremony has become a distinctive tradition for the residents of the region and attracts the attention of tourists from all over the world, as it allows the people of the area to sell the handicrafts produced for that year to tourists during the three days of the ceremony. In these five villages, the people lived together peacefully as brothers and without any problems for several generations."

Nasih Ali Abdullah, 40 years old, Slemani.

"During this celebration of International Women's Day, many women came out to demonstrate against restrictions and extremism, to express their place in society. Women are flowers of the earth and doves of peace."

Mustafa Mohsen, Baghdad.

In 2020, the United Nations Development Program in Iraq launched a five-year program dedicated to social cohesion to promote stronger, more peaceful and more cohesive societies in all regions of Iraq. The media component of this program includes engagement with communities in Iraq through social media platforms and online methods, such as national competitions.



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