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ZIBA KAZEMI
by Patrizia Pulga
| July
2013 marks the 10th Anniversary of the death of Iranian-Canadian photojournalist,
Zahra “Ziba” Kazemi, who was murdered by Iranian officials
after her July 2003 arrest while photographing a demonstration in
Tehran, Iran. Ziba Kazemi (b. Persia 1948 - July 11, 2003) |
I want
to introduce Zahra Kazemi, called "Ziba" (“Beautiful"
in Farsi) born in Shiraz, Iran in 1948.
In 1974, following her Film studies in Tehran, Ziba moved to Paris,
France, where she worked for Iranian TV. As a photographer who was
deeply committed to documenting people living in climates of social and political
conflict, she had a special gift for capturing the strengths of women whose lives
were shrouded by poverty,
forced exile,
and oppression.
In her extensive travels, Ziba created beautiful pictures of ordinary
people and their habitats. Her striking portraits of women often focused
on their eyes, "the windows of the soul."
|
 In
1993 she immigrated with her son, Stephan, to Canada where she became
a freelance photojournalist. It was during this time that she began
her reportage work, producing documentaries from many of the socially
and politically troubled regions of the world including: the Ivory
Coast, Mexico, Haiti, and Costa Rica. She traveled throughout the
Middle East, documenting the conflict in Palestine, Iran, Iraq, and
Afghanistan
In 2003 Ziba went back to visit her native country. On June 23,
while in Tehran waiting for a visa to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, Ziba photographed
demonstrators in front of Evin Prison, known for
holding and mistreating political prisoners. While photographing these
demonstrations, the Iranian police stopped Ziba and requested that
she give them her camera and her film. She refused. Opening her camera
and exposing her film to the light, she destroyed her pictures, thereby
eliminating any evidence that may have proven incriminating. Ziba
was arrested on the spot. Over the next few weeks, while held in captivity,
she was tortured, beaten, and raped. Ziba was taken to The Baghiyyatollah
al-Azam Military Hospital, a military hospital in Vanak, Tehran, where
she died on July 11, 2003 |
Her
son, Stephan, in collaboration with the Ziba
Kazemi Foundation, has faithfully curated and preserved his mother's work
and photographic legacy. Visiting this site, it is now possible to view not only
her photographs but also in-depth information (including articles and documents)
about her life and her death. The Foundation is committed to promoting intercultural
harmony and exchange through photojournalism and other artful forms of communication.
All images above by ©Ziba Kazemi, not to reproduced
without permission |
|
All
rights reserved for permission to reprint, contact Patrizia Pulga
website:
www.patriziapulga.it
e-mail: Patrizia
Pulga
WIPI PhotoProfile
Patrizia Pulga -
( CHARTER MEMBER ) Bologna, Italy
1) Photojournalism 2) Architectural 3) Food 4) Workshops
Patrizia, based in Italy, has spent more than 30 years doing commercial
photographs for european companies, books and magazines. As a
photo-journalist she is concerned with:
- immigration topics
and women’s
condition in Europe, Africa, Asia, North and South America.
- architecture and town planning in Europe and U.S.A
| Articles
by Patrizia Pulga include:
WOMEN
PHOTOGRAPHERS
FROM MIDDLE EAST & INDIAN SUBCONTINENT
WOMEN
PHOTOGRAPHERS IN TUNISIA
"Artocracy" DURING THE JASMIN REVOLUTION, 2011
WOMEN
PHOTOGRAPHERS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES AND CULTURES (2011)
Homage
To African Women Photographers, (2010)
“FOCUS
ON FEMALE" at Orvieto Fotografia (2009)
Sylvia
Plachy/Blanca Berlin Gallery/Spain (2008)
Salutes
the Women Photographers of Africa (2006)
CENSUS
ABOUT WOMEN PHOTOGRAPHERS ACTIVE IN
ITALY, EUROPE AND THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION (2000)
|
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rights reserved
copyright WomenInPhotography.org |
