Nasim Fekrat
The World Through My Eyes
Berry that brings hope
Maria has been selling berries to make money for her family. She was 10 years old, and hopeful to finish her school and eventually find a job to support her family. Today, I have been looking for photos of a trip that I had to then Northern part of Salang pass, Baghlan and came across Maria’s photo. (more…)
Old part of Kabul city
This is an old part of Kabul city called “Temor Shahi Bazaar,” sometimes it is simply called ‘Temor Shahi.’ Known for its bustling shops, Temor Shahi has lots of buried memories deep into its alleyways, corners, and warrens of mud houses. (more…)
Homeless And Despair After Kuchis’ Attack In Behsud
Fatema 45, the mother of five children, left homeless and hopeless after the Pashtun Kuchis destroyed and burned down her house and many other houses in her in neighborhood in Behsud district. (more…)
Hazara Mosque Burned by Sunni Kuchis
This is a Shiite Hazara mosque in Behsud district that was burned by Sunni Pashtun-Kuchis. Every year around April and May, violent clashes erupts between local Hazaras and incoming Pashtun Kuchis in the pastures of Eastern Hazajarat. (more…)
A Melody of Hope
This headless person who plays this piece of music is me. I improvised this melody while I was procrastinating with my homework. I’m a beginner and pardon me for any mistake if you noticed. I recorded it last year when I was in college and presented to my friend Bilal.
Rabab is one of the most respected instruments in Afghanistan and it is originated in Afghanistan and then spread throughout Indian subcontinent. (more…)
13 Years after Bamiyan Buddhas Destroyed
Afghanistan’s historic Bamiyan Buddhas, destroyed by the Taliban 13 years ago, on March 11, 2001. The statues were 1,500-year-old and could be repaired if UNESCO and Afghan government plan to. (more…)
Afghan Women’s Rights, Better But Not Enough
Afghan women’s rights in bigger cities have improved drastically; millions of girls go to school, thousands of women have got jobs in the government and private sectors; almost half of parliament members are female and of course their presence is palpable in every places. Of course, this is not enough. (more…)
The Khajou Bridge of Isfahan
The Khajou bridge is similar to Siosepol, the 33 bridge or the bridge of 33 arches. Among locals, it is also called the Allah-Verdi Khan bridge, and it is one of the eleven bridges of Isfahan, Iran. It is ranked as one of the most famous examples of Safavid bridge design. (more…)
Afghans are Natural Born Thinkers
Sunk deep into an ocean of thought, Afghans are famous to be natural born thinkers. As you can see in this photo, three Afghans who are probably in their 50s have glued their gazes at the patterns of the colorful carpet. The man with a Kandahari hat thinks how drops of ocean have ended up into his cup and turned into tea that would finally goes into his body. (more…)
Winter in Hazarajat, Isolation Doubled
Since 2001 and with the international presence, The Hazarajat received few development projects. The region never has had a paved road or more than a handful of high schools or hospitals. The central Afghanistan which is majorly populated by the Hazara people is sealed in mountains and completely isolated from the rest of the country. (more…)
Winter Game in Kabul
The new generation of Afghans no longer want to follow the same career path of their parents, playing soccer is one of them and it is a new thing in the country. It is winter in Afghanistan and these youngsters enjoy playing soccer in the snow while their old parents might be busy in games like cock fighting, dog fighting and numerous other animal fighting. (more…)
Afghan Style Snowboarding
It is winter in Afghanistan and among cock fighting, dog fighting and numerous other animal fightings, young Afghans venture to slide their arses in the snow as part of their winter game. This kind of snowboarding in Farsi is called Yakh Malah, or, Yakh Lakhshak, which literally means sliding on ice.
Tomb of Soviet Soldier in Afghanistan
This is a Soviet soldier’s tomb in the northern part of the Salang Pass, on a 12,723 ft elevation. The inscription on the grave stone read “Malinin Sergy V. 1965-86.” He was 20 at the time of his death and may have driven a truck. Today is the 25th anniversary of the final Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan and it is also a national holiday Afghans. (more…)
With Thick Coat of Snow Central Afghanistan went into Hibernation
A long-forgotten memory stirred in me this morning; one of those that creates tumult in you and sinks you into an anguished mood. One of those memories that wraps you in a velvet of agony. Then, you are torn inwardly, and left with shredded memories that you are trying recollect when you of course cannot. Just like tattered cloths that cannot be patched, some memories cannot be healed, they rather torment you from inside. Precisely, this is what I felt this morning and here is the story: (more…)
Holy Self-flagellation
Ashura, the 10th of Muharam is a holy day for Muslims and especial day for Shiites. This day is a remarkable day in Islamic calendar, the day of mourning for the martyrdom of Hussian the son Ali and the grandson of Muhammad in the unequal battle of Karbala in the year Hijri 61 (AD 680). (more…)
Mustafa Kazemi
Mustafa Kazemi was an influential member of the parliament at the time of his assassination, was a former Trade Minister in President Karzai’s cabinet. He was also the spokesperson for the opposition movement known as the United National Front. (more…)
Women Suffer in Herat
The city of Herat, the current regional capital of western Afghanistan, has been known for its cultural heritage. As a cultural hub for all Farsi speakers in the the region, noted for its music, poetry, calligraphy, art and architecture. (more…)
Islam and Afghan Beard
It is said that this is Mohammad’s quote: “I have no connection with one who shaves, shouts and tears his clothing eg. in grief or affection.” (more…)
Disabled Afghan Man
The war-torn Afghanistan is one of the most mine-contaminated countries in the world. As a result, around 2,000 Afghans become disabled each year due to mine blasts and related incidents. (more…)
Eyes: Inspring Source
A prominent Afghan poet Sayyid Zakaria Rahel gazes at a female eye on a billboard. In Farsi poetry, eyes are the most notable source of inspiration for poets. I translated part of his poem called “human” on his blog.
Passing each other with a smile on our lips and a wall in between:
Hello!
Passing each other with a smile on our lips and a mountain in between:
Goodbye!
Human is internally bordered within himelf with,
mysterious mountain-like:
filled with thousand half hidden,
silent volcano:
full of internal flames”