Public Diplomacy through the lens of a photographer

Photo by:  Majid Saeedi

While the international community is worried about Iranian uranium enrichment program and United States is strengthening sanctions against Iran, an Iranian photographer act of public diplomacy shows a different side of Iran and what the Iranian people stand for.

Photo by:  Majid Saeedi

Majid Saeedi, an Iranian photographer for Getty Images is an internationally recognized photojournalist who tells the story through the pictures. Saeedi recently won the prestigious Lucie Award in New York City but he couldn’t pick up his prize since his visa was not processed on time.  “I applied for my visa three months ago but the lengthy process due to the lack of diplomatic relations between the two countries makes the process difficult.” Saeedi wrote to me in an email while he was capturing photos of Libyan people for a transition to democracy and the unrest on the streets of Libya.

In 2009, Saeedi was arrested during the Iranian presidential elections for transmitting images of protest on the streets of Tehran. He spent over a month in Evin Prison and was sentenced to three years in jail. He decided to escape Iran to the neighboring country of Afghanistan. Saeedi’s photos from the realities on the streets of Afghanistan say it all. He takes a special interest in capturing kids and revealing the pain they suffer.

Photo by:  Majid Saeedi

Photo by:  Majid Saeedi

His photos tell the story of kids with addiction in Afghanistan, poverty on the streets, and Afghans losing body parts because of landmines, rockets, and air strikes.


When I asked Majid why is it that he only takes photos of sadness and despair, he said, “People around the world need to see the images of what is going on so they can pay attention and make a difference.” 

I learned about Majid's work when I was working on a number of public diplomacy projects in Afghanistan.  During one of my visits to Kabul, I met with Majid and told him about a much happier place, "Samar Orphange" in Bamyan and in Ghazni that is run by a dedicated Afghan woman, Dr. Sima Samar.   After meeting with Majid, I was inspired and decided to go back to the "Samar Orphanage" in Bamyan and teach kids how to take snap shots so they can document their lives.  With the help of a wonderful humanitarian lady from Canada, Pauline Tymchuk, we managed to send some digital cameras to the orphanage.

I am sharing some of the photos taken by the kids at the orphanage which paints a happier side of Afghanistan.  This video is dedicated to Majid and rest of the photographers who risk their lives every day to bring us the stories.