Iraq, formally known as Mesopotamia, is considered by many as the cradle of civilization. With more than a 10,000 years history, it certainly overshadows any existing country for the lengths of its existence. It also overshadows any civilization for its contribution to the world. It is the birthplace of writing and mathematics while its contribution to architecture, knowledge and academics are undeniable. It is also a violent land, plagued with many invasions and wars. It also has been in the last 20 years, the source of the some of the most iconic photographs. It would be impossible to create an history of photography without having numerous images from Iraq. However, until recently, most of the images were taken by passing western photographers. Only when it became dangerous for foreign journalists to stay in Iraq due to frequent kidnappings that news organization started training and employing local photographers. After years of supplying images to international wire services, Iraq has now its own photo agency : Metrography

Using only local photographers in the 18 provinces of Iraq, it is able to go further and deeper in their coverage of the country than any Western mega agency. Because their 65 photographers are locals and speak the various dialects, it is easier for them to get their stories. Furthermore, they are not tied to any embedded filter that has previously restrained the work of other photographers. Metrography covers not only the remains of a bloody war but the first baby step of an emerging nation that is painfully trying to rebuild its past grandeur.

For its first reportage in La Lettre, Metrography is showing the work of Ali Arkady called Hussein, wounded soldier. It is the difficult story of the 28 years old iraqi soldier struggle to find a life after being badly wounded by an IDE.

On January 22nd, 2012, an IED (Improvised Explosive Devise) detonated near an Iraqi Army base in Fallujah. Hussein Jamil Abdullah, a 28 year-old soldier from Baghdad was nearby when the explosive discharged, knocking him to the ground. He lay there for half an hour, his right leg in an jerry-rigged tourniquet made from a headscarf, before he was taken to hospital. 
Gangrene set in almost immediately and the doctors at Fallujah General Hospital had to amputate his leg. He was then moved to Adnan Hospital, the military medical center, but the care Hussein received was terrible. His bandage wasn’t changed for two days and fearing that gangrene would set in a second time his family moved him to Kerkh Hospital, for which they had to cover the costs themselves, as the army refused to pay. 
As soon as he was wounded, the Army cut Hussein’s salary in half: from $500 a month to $250, which is less than he can live on. His brother, Ali, has given up his work as a barber to take care of him, and his two other brothers, Abbas and Hassan, now take care of the family. 
Before he was wounded, Hussein, was to be engaged to his fiancée, Hind and he had even bought and furnished a room in preparation. But, since the explosion, Hind’s father has refused to allow them to marry, saying that they can’t do so until Hussein gets a prosthetic leg.

All images by Ali Arkady/Metrography

If you are a photo agency and would also like to participate to this weekly column, please send a note to Paul Melcher at paul.melcher@lalettredelaphotographie.com.