Iraq Photo Archive

My grandpa and his friends. Basra

This is my jido (grandfather) Rassoul El-Khazragi. I never got the chance to meet him but thanks to my father, Mazzin El-Khazragi, I feel like I know him through his stories. Thank you to him for also letting me share this short story. Rassoul was a member of the Iraqi communist party in his youth. One day in the early 50's while he was working in a hospital in Baghdad running the X-ray department, there was a demonstration in the city. The communist party was involved and one of the leaders was arrested and in the struggle of it all he got injured badly. In need of an X ray, he was brought to the hospital where my grandfather worked. Seeing each other in this situation with guards around, they acted like strangers meeting for the first time. Rassoul took him into the X-ray room telling the guards they must stay outside for health and safety reasons. Meanwhile, they both form a plan for his escape and how to make it look convincing otherwise he himself could get into serious trouble. Staging a fight, Rassoul asked his friend to punch him in the face and to then escape through the window on the second floor and climb down the pipe. The security guards opened the door after a while of waiting and found my granddad with a bloody face acting faint and the window open. What a story! By @zahraelkhazragi Baghdad, 1951

This is the only photograph of my great grandfather Wadi Kadhum El-Khazragi when he was in his mid 30's. He was also known as Wawi which means jackal. He died in 1952 and came from the El-Khazragi tribe in Tuereej, Iraq. My dad recently told me an amazing story about him and I wanted to share it. As he was apart of a tribe, he was armed, had daggers and guns and was a very tough man. Unfortunately in 1948, the creation of the state of Israel was proclaimed which followed a big out cry in the Arab world against Israel because they had sadly caused thousands of innocent Palestinians to become refugees. This lead to attacks by mobs on Jewish minorities in Iraq and other places. At least 3 Jewish families settled in the small village where Wadi lived. In his eyes, they were just as Iraqi as anyone else was. He found out that a couple of tribes around the village were organising an attack on the Jews. He quickly took his gun and daggers, instructed all the Jews to hide in the house of one of the Jewish families whose name was Ghazala. He sat outside crossed legged at the front door armed waiting for the tribal mobs to show up. Once they did, they told Wadi that they didn't have a problem with him, they wanted the Jews to which he replied with something like 'over my dead body, if you want them you'll have to fight me. They backed off and left. That gave enough time for the Jews in Tuereej to safely leave to the capital of Baghdad. Such an incredible story. By @zahraelkhazragi Baghdad, 1949

Graduation Ceremony, University of Technology Baghdad Civil Engineering, 1984

This photo for my father and his best childhood Friends and their children on their lap having a great time at the swings of a holiday village of Habbaniyah. It has great meaning for me to know that some of these days they lived well with enjoyable times. I was only two months old at that time. Habbaniyah, 1977

I was less than a year in this photo, my mother carrying me and my brother on her side, its give me a nostalgia for all the good times I had back when I was child, and how was the country well formed with good artistic features in that time. Al-Zawraa Park, Baghdad, 1978

This photo of my parents and my brother, my mother was pregnant with me in that photo, they went to a holiday in one of the holidays villages in North Iraq in the mountains of Shaqlawa. My father was killed in a car blast in Baghdad in 2015. So seeing how happy he was means a lot to me. Shaqlawa, 1977

This photo taken in 1979 of my brother taken by my late Grandfather in centre Baghdad (Firdos Square currently), in that time there was the Monument of the Unknown Soldier, love how it represent the good old times of great architecture. Baghdad/ The old Monument of the Unknown Soldier, 1979

Dad, Hussein Alattiya, playing Volleyball with his school friends, AlMaaqal High school for boys. Basra, late 1960s.

Dad, Hussein Alattiya, with his friends at Al-Sindbad Park. Basra, early 1970s

Dad, Hussein Alattiya and mom, Iman Idan, with my sister, at the Amusement Park of Basra. Basra, 1978

Dad, Hussein Alattiya, with uncles and neighbors playing football at their home garden in Al-Maaqal neighborhood, in the late 1960s at Basra. Al-Maaqal at that time was considered one of the best neighborhoods in Basra to live at, with its beautiful houses and big gardens. Basra, late 1960s

Dad, Hussein Alattiya, with his volleyball friends, AlMaaqal High school for boys. Basra, late 1960s.

This is my grandfather, Mahdi Alattiya, spending a sunny afternoon with his friends on Shat Alarab corniche. Basra, 20th August 1937

This is Mom's and Dad's first date after getting engaged. Ice Cream date in 1970s Basra. Basra, 3rd April 1977

My father, Uraibi Abdel Hamza, in front of a car in the city of Kut. Kut, 1980

My grandparents in Baghdad, Iraq right after they got engaged in 1973. Later on my grandfather died due to leukemia, they had 7 kids together. My youngest aunt was only 9 months old when my grandfather passed away. Right after he died, my grandmother started to only wear black and never puts make up anymore until today cuz she says the world lost its colour when he died. They really loved each other. Baghdad, 1973

These photo are important to me because they’re a zeitgeist of scenery in a Baghdad that no longer exists. The famous two story Baghdadi style houses are disappearing one by one and are being replaced by either planned out, unoriginal, community style (often high rise) projects, such as Iraqi gate, or by tiny McMansion style shoe boxes, often made in attempts of adapting to Baghdad’s failed electrical system. Beyond that the photos also look very lush and vegetive, which is something that is also disappearing in an Iraq that can’t seem to adapt to climate change, as despite being seen as the least of the worries plaguing our country, it will be the one that’s most impactful in our near future. Lastly, the photos just look peaceful and happy, in contrast to the “usual” photos of the last 20+ years. Grandma's house, Baghdad, 1970s

Institute of Fine Arts Baghdad, 1970s

Baghdad, 1960s

These are photos of my father's history he never liked to talk about. Baghdad, 1970s

These pictures are of my father and some of the heroes who are standing against enemy lines in northern Iraq, where they represent the best Iraqi heroes in confronting the enemies. Sulaymaniyah, 1980

الاول من الواقفين من اليمين وزير الشباب والرياضة السابق جاسم محمد جعفر عندما كان طالبا في جامعة السليمانية This picture was taken in Sulaimaniya University in the late 70's. First one who is on the right is the previous Iraqi Minister of youth and sport. His name is Jasim Muhammed Ja’fer Sulaimaniya Univeristy, 1970s

These are photos my parents took while they were in architecture school at the University of Baghdad. The minaret of Ana has since been destroyed. Ana, 1980-1982

These are photos my parents took while they were in architecture school at the University of Baghdad. Samarra, 1980-1982

These are photos my parents took while they were in architecture school at the University of Baghdad. Al Ukhaidir fortress, near Karbala, 1980-1982

These are photos my parents took while they were in architecture school at the University of Baghdad. Heet, 1980-1982

This is my saba, Salach (Tzvi) Dagmi. This picture is important to me, as it's a reminder of the vibrant Jewish Baghdadi community that lived in, and were an integral part of, the city and country. My saba worked at the train station selling train tickets and package postage slips. Baghdad, 1947-49

It’s my grandfather and his friends. Baghdad, 1950

Basra International Airport VIP Hall access under construction - which was later used only by the Iraqi president or very high officials. Basra, 1986

My father and his friend Dr. Yaqoub AbdulMasih who is currently in Dublin, on a field trip to the historic and legendry Babylonian city. Babylon is a very important city and legacy of Iraq and the world, whether historically or even religiously. Babylon, 1984

My father and his friend Dr. Yaqoub AbdulMasih who is currently in Dublin, on a field trip to the historic and legendry Babylonian city, here at the Ishtar Gate. Babylon is a very important city and legacy of Iraq and the world, whether historically or even religiously. Babylon, 1984

Photos taken infront of the Basra International Airport while it was under construction. This airport was a huge and important project due to its strategic location in the South of Iraq for business travel and economic growth and trade, etc. It should be noted that currently the state of the airport is embarrassing and shameful, only a small section of the airport is operational while the rest is closed for obvious reasons (unrest in Iraq reduced tourism and frequency of travelers into Basra) but what's upsetting is none of the facilities of this small operational portion is being maintained, serviced or fixed. All the equipments and technological advancements that were installed into this airport are mostly broken and not functioning; and rather than fixing them, they are being replaced by outdated systems. Basra, 1986

The Iraqi Marshes - my father with his best friend Saeed Dhamad who is currently in Canada and friends on yet another field trip. Al Ahwar, 1984

My father with two of his friends standing by a Farm in Al Faw City. Iraq has a lot of resources, agriculture, great soil, water sources, natural water flows. It is important that we highlight that there is more to Iraq than war and catastrophe. Al Faw, 1986

My father, his two brothers in Kurdistan with their Kurdi friend. The picture was taken infront of the Gali Ali Bag Waterfall near Soran. Iraq has a lot of resources, agriculture, great soil, water sources, natural water flows. It is important that we highlight that there is more to Iraq than war and catastrophe. Gali Ali Bag Waterfall, Kurdistan, 1985

Basra International Airport housing compound - my father with a friend having a swim in the recreation area. Basra, 1983

Burjesia park was one of the most common parks that families and friends went for picnics and BBQs there. Basra, 1985

A photo taken in the housing compound for Basra International Airport workers. The compound was 90% foreigners and 10% Iraqis since most of Iraqis already had a living space somewhere within the city. My father, a colleague and friend with her daughter, who are still family friends of ours. The three people in the picture are wearing similar t-shirts with the same logo, once my dad told me what the logo/t-shirts stood for, I found it interesting that such a culture was very common in Basra among the foreigners and Iraqis. The logo is for a running social club called Hash House Harriers established in 1938, a lot of people who were part of the Hashers/Harriers group wore these shirts and participated in many runs around the city. The Hashers t-shirts were provided by the UNICEF in Basra. Basra, 1984-86

The Mesopotamian Marshlands (Al-Ahwar) have been inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List, where they wrote ''The inscription of the property known as ‘The Ahwar of Southern Iraq: Refuge of Biodiversity and the Relict Landscape of the Mesopotamian Cities' is an international recognition of its outstanding universal value. With its cultural and natural features, the Marshlands played a major role in the development of the earliest urban centers and in the emergence of complex societies in southern Mesopotamia, dubbed as the Cradle of Civilization. The mixed serial property includes four natural and three cultural components, namely the Huwaizah, East and West Hammar and Central Marshes, together with the archaeological sites of Ur, Uruk and Eridu.'' Iraq is full of despair, yet filled with potential, hope and wonders. Al Ahwar, 1980s

The construction of my grandparents house in AlGhazaliya. This image fills me with nostalgia as firstly I did not remember the details of my grandparents house design (external); where the main thing I remember is everything on the inside, from the last time I was there in 2001 for a month, seeing my grandfather for the last time, Baghdad for the last time, this house for the last time. Not to mention that before 2001 the last time I was in Baghdad I was 6 years old. Baghdad, 1985

My father went on a road trip with his friends yet again to the Anah area - in this photo you can see Rawa as the water is rising due to the start of filling the Haditha damm. Rawa, 1989

My father went on a road trip with his friends yet again to the Anah area - in this photo you can see drowned Anah with the tops of the Palm trees still on top of the water. Anah, 1989

My father went on a road trip with his friends yet again to the Anah area - in these photos you can see the Anah Islands. Anah, 1989

My father went on a road trip with his friends yet again to the Anah area and then specifically to the land facing Aloos Island which is in the Euphrates river. Very interesting for me as it represents my heritage, family and ancestors history, they left a great memory behind them and their eagerness to be educated, be teachers, scientists, philosophers, etc. just makes me proud to have a family name that stands for a great legacy (in my opinion). Aloos island, 1989

This lady sitting next to my father is a Basrawi singer known as Rabeaa Kareem, her music can be found on YouTube and she is pretty well known. She used to also work in the Basra Airport along with my dad. She is very iconic, her style, character, personality, her race and career. I love the fact that she remains in history online, youtube, etc. a representation of harmony amongst the people, as Basra has a lot of colored people and there is more acceptance there than anywhere else as it's very common with a big black community and population; specifically AlZubair area in Basra. Basra, 1985

This hole is referred to as Tilbis Prison. Hamurabi used this prison/holes when he enslaved Jews to work for him in Babylon. The jail cells were for the aggressive/dangerous Jews; they were put into that small space and a rock was inserted into the opening to close it, then a long metal bar was put through two mini openings on either side to secure it closed. East of Anah, 1983

My parents went to Anah and Rawa during their honey moon; he wanted to introduce her to where he grew up. My mother in this photo is standing infront of a fallen meteor that has created a huge and deep hole around itself deep in the ground. This area is known as AlKhasfa or Khasfat Salman Roza (Salman Roza is a very well known professional car racer, his car fell into this hole at a night in the 50s where his car remains are still present there) or Khasfat Om AlTal. Alkhasfa, 1989

My parents went to Anah and Rawa during their honey moon; he wanted to introduce her to where he grew up. This specific photo shows the bridge that previously was used to connect between Anah and Rawa. A concrete bridge was constructed afterwards connecting between New Anah (Hill) and New Rawa which is further to the right outside the photo frame. Rawa, 1989

My parents went to Anah and Rawa during their honey moon; he wanted to introduce her to where he grew up. Rawa when this picture was taken was half drowned and the other half was fine as it was on a hill. After the Haditha Damm was filled, they relocated the people of Rawa to the upper area. Anah behind the person being photographed spans a length of 13kms. My father grew up in Anah & finished high-school there, then moved to Baghdad in 1979 with his siblings and my grandparents, where he finished his bachelors. Schools in Rawa were up to Grade 9 - where students had to go to Anah to finish High-School. Rawa, 1989

Sadiya Kanber with her daughter. Al Faw, Basra, 1955

Jamal Kanber Al Faw port, Basra, 1946

My dad Muafaq Wafi on a uni trip to the Babylon site. Babylon, 1966

This is a photo of my mom Kifah Kanber Wafi with her classmates. It was first year Technical Institute For Administration, Baghdad, Iraq. Baghdad, 1978

This photo Fatima Hashim, Kamal Kanber Wafi and my dada Muafaq Wafi few months old with his sister Nawal and brother Aqeel. Amara, 1945

My dad Muafaq Kanber Wafi, Nabil Kanber, Shatha Kanber, Entifadh Kanber and Wamidh Kanber as children. The Kanber family. Baghdad, 1961

My dad Muafaq Wafi with his friends at a uni trip to Saddat al Hindiyah dam. Saddat Al Hindiyah, 1964

My dad Muafaq Wafi in science class at university. Adhamiya, Baghdad University College of Science, 1964

Photo is of a comedy play written by my dad Muafaq Wafi. He played at his uni theatre. Adhamiya, Baghdad University College of Science, 1964

It's a photo of my late father with his classmates. Geology Department, Faculty of Science, University of Baghdad Baghdad, 1970

This picture is taken at Eid. The other guy is my cousin. We are copying the movies. Kerbala, 1963.

The Military Museum, students from the academy of art year one. The time and the place, it’s the history. Baghdad, 1970

My grandfather Shathel Taqa was Iraq's Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1974. He is well-known to be one of the pioneers of the Arabic free verse movement with Badr Shakir Al Sayyab (his close friend), Nazik al-Mala'ika and Abd al-Wahhab Al-Bayati. In this photo of 1969, Shathel Taqa (with my grandmother, father and his friends) is leaving Baghdad for Moscow to become Iraq's ambassador in Russia. It's important for me to honor a person who was dedicated to his country, his family and culture. May Allah bless Iraq and it's people. Baghdad Airport, 1969

Grandfather’s shop. Al Mansour, Baghdad, 1950

The person on the right is Mezaal Hasan Alazawi (born 1947). He was a brigadier general in the Iraqi airforce army and retired in 1990. He participated in several wars including the 1980s war against Iran and 1973 against Israel. He was awarded for his heroism many times by the Iraqi army and by the Russian aircraft corporation MiG. He was a father of 7 (4 daughters and 3 sons). He passed away in 2017. He was my uncle in law and was beloved to me and the whole family. I learned typing on the keyboard when I was 7 years old when I wrote his Masters thesis. Baghdad, 1966.

My father. Haditha, 1949

My father. Haditha, 1946

Betool Al-Fekaiki (right) Baghdad, 1950s

This is Betool Al-Fekaiki with a family she was well acquainted with. It shows her casually glamorous and shows the vitality of golden-age Iraq. Mosul, late 1950s

This is an image of my grandmother, the well-known Iraqi artist Betool Al Fekaiki. Baghdad, early 1950s

It’s a photo of my dad (on the right) with local neighbours who went on a summer trip to Habbaniyah lake and they used to do a trip to a place every other week on Fridays. Leave at dawn and come back after sunset. They split costs, rent out a mini van with driver. Bring out radio, cassettes, food, some music instruments “dombog” some beverages (alcohol) and have good time and enjoy summer. It’s important because we rarely see pictures of my dad’s youth, we hear tonnes of stories about life, friendships, wars, food, travels but never actually see any of it, we keep on imagining how things were. Habbaniyah lake, 1970s.

The photo is of my grandfather (May Allah have mercy on him). He was an architecture teacher at the beginning of his career. Hor Al-Husain, 1968 الصورة تعود لجدو الله يرحمه كان يشتغل معلم بالعمارة ببداية تعيينه العمارة، هور الحصين. ١٩٦٨

The picture belongs to my father and a group of his friends in the Mandali groves. A large part of the groves was burned by the Iran-Iraq war Diyala, Mandali. 1979 الصورة تعود لوالدي و مجموعة من اصدقائه ببساتين مندلي جزء كبير من هل بساتين احترق بحرب ايران و العراق ديالى، مندلي. ١٩٧٩

My uncle and my mother, أمي و خالي Baqubeh, Diyala, 1969

This is a photograph of teachers at a primary school in Diyala, including my grandfather. This photo is important to me as it turns stories I’ve been told as a kid into a physical format, and I am able to vividly imagine the memories of my grandfather and his friends through this photo. Diyala province, End of 1950s

It shows a time when people coexisted peacefully regardless of religion or ethnicity. The photo shows an Assyrian party in Nadi al Faqir. I love this picture because it shows my maternal uncle (left) at 19 years old and how enjoyable life was then compared to now. It's a beautiful thing to look at these photographs and reminisce. Baghdad, (Nadi al Faqir), 1971

Graduation, Geology faculty. Baghdad University, 30th June 1975

My father on Geology excursion (Baghdad University) Outside Baghdad, 1975

My paternal grandparents with my dad's younger siblings. Al Mansour, Baghdad, 1975

My mum's (second from left) university graduation. Baghdad University, 30th June 1976

Mum & dad Baghdad, 1976

My grandparents & aunt dancing at my parents wedding reception (held at my grandparent's home. Al Mansour, Baghdad, 1978

My father around 14 years old testing out his new camera in the bathroom. Baghdad, 1967

Baghdad's university, my uncle at the cafeteria with his friend. Baghdad, 1967

My father and his friend at a place in Baghdad called the 'Tarmiyah' enjoying their weekend. Baghdad, 1978

My father on a trip to the River Tigris with his friends. Baghdad, 1975

This was my grandfather at Baghdad's Central train station built by the British, trains that took you allover the Middle East and beyond. Baghdad, 1955

College cafeteria with a colleague during a break between lectures. Baghdad, 1976

My father was taking a trip outside of Baghdad where one of his friends took this under a palm tree. Outskirts of Baghdad, 1975

Family picnic with the aunts and uncles, you can see pots of food and bread held by my grandmother. One is sorting her hair and the children (my father and aunt) enjoying being around the family. Baghdad, 1965

This is one of the earliest photo's of my dad with his siblings and mother in the background. It shows life being normal, where people used to bike across the city, enjoy their gardens and where what they liked. Normality that does not exist anymore for generations after the 90's. Baghdad, 1959/60

My father with his classmates at the University of Baghdad. Baghdad, 1960s

A photo taken by my father of his friend on a geology field trip. Outside Baghdad, 1960s

My father and his friends on a geology field trip. Outside Baghdad, 1960s

My father and his friends picking dates Location unknown, Iraq, 1960s

A photo taken by my father of his friends. Baghdad University, 1960s

My late father Dr. Munim Muflih Al-Rawi is in this photo, second from the right. He was a student of geology at this time. This was taken in the University of Baghdad. He was passionate about the earth sciences and spoke fondly of this time. From the right: Najeeb Yousef, Munim Al-Rawi, Abdullah Hawa, Saad Zair Jassim, Janan Toma, Yukina Boulos, Jassim Al-Badawi, Tahseen Mohammed, Wissam Al-Hashemi. Baghdad, 1960s

My late father (centre) with his classmates at the University of Baghdad. This picture is in the Old College Club next to the Badala near the entrance to the college. The club has became a hall and a theater. The photo is of an introductory party held at the beginning of each year, so it includes male and female students from different departments. Baghdad, 1960s

My late father Dr. Munim Muflih Al-Rawi (sixth from left) with his geology classmates at the University of Baghdad. The photo dates back to a first-year class at the College of Science in 1962 in the physics lab. It includes students from geology and other departments. Sitting from the right: Mai Al-Baseer, a student whose name I don't remember, Amal Al-Rikabi, Najib Yousef, and Saad Zair Jassim. Standing in the back from the right: Teaching Assistant Mohammed Al-Jabouri, Aref Aloush, Abdul Razzaq Al-Qannas, Ahmed Al-Siddiqi, Jassim Al-Badawi, Kazem Al-Rubaie, Tahseen Mohammed, Teaching Assistant Khalifa, Yukina Boulos, Munim Al-Rawi, Jinan Toma, Abdul-Ilah Hawah, Wissam Al-Hashemi, Wahid Atabi, and Riyadh Al-Rahmani. University of Baghdad, 1962

A photo taken by my father of his friend on a geology field trip. Outside Baghdad, 1960s

This is a photograph my father took of two men refuelling a bus while he was on a geology field trip from university. Outside Baghdad, 1960s

This is a photo of my father Dr. Munim Muflih Al-Rawi (2nd from right) with his classmates on a geology field trip. From the right: Unknown, Munim Muflih Al-Rawi, Munir, the late Dr. Qasim Hassan Al-Habib, on the far left is the late Adnan Saadallah. Outside Baghdad, 1960s

A photo my father took of Saad Zair Jassim (right) and Dia (Left) on a geology field trip. Outside Baghdad, 1960s

My late father is in this photograph, far left. He was a student of geology at the time and this was taken on a field trip. Location unknown, 1960s

My late father Dr. Munim Muflih Al-Rawi is in this photo, centre 2nd row. He was a student of geology at this time. The photo dates back to 1962 during a field trip for the first year geology class. Seated from the right are Ahmed Al-Siddiqi, Munim Al-Rawi, and Riyadh Al-Rahmani. Standing from the right are Salman Al-Azzawi, teaching assistant Adnan Al-Naqqash, a student who dropped out at the time, Walid Al-Kilani (who dropped out and joined the Military College). In the background are Hisham Al-Droubi (who transferred to the College of Dentistry) and Qasim Hassan Al-Habib. Location unknown, 1962

My late father Dr. Munim Muflih Al-Rawi is in this photograph, seated on the right. He was a student of geology at the time. This was taken in the University of Baghdad. From the right: Munim Al-Rawi, Saad Zair Jassim, and Wissam Al-Hashemi Baghdad, 1960s