Life and war in Afghanistan
The pictures of award-winning photographer Majid Saeedi show what decades of war have done to Afghan society. The traces of conflict and violence are visible in even the most unexpected places.
Tragic toys
Here, two little girls play with a prosthetic arm in Kabul. It is photographs like this one which have won the photo journalist Majid Saeedi from Tehran multiple awards.
Worth a thousand words
Majid Saeedi took up photography at the age of 16. Over the past two decades he has focused on the human side of conflicts in South Asia and the Middle East and has been committed to these regions. His photos have been published in numerous prestigious magazines and newspapers, among them the German magazine DER SPIEGEL, the Washington Post and the New York Times.
The children of Afghanistan
Afghan people have been heavily influenced by decades of war. He portrays their lives in his newest photo set, provided to DW. Many of the pictures focus on children, such as this boy, who lost his arms in a landmine explosion.
Among the ruins
Not only do the people speak of Afghanistan's past, the multitude of ruins throughout the country do as well.
Stark contrasts
The wounds of war and impressive landscapes - the contrast between the humane and the inhumane sides of war: one of the topics of Saeedi's photo documentation.
Daily fix
Drug addiction is a major problem in the country. Providing around 90 percent of the world's output, Afghanistan is by far the largest producer of opium. The number of those addicted to opiates is accordingly high. There's no official data as to how many children are addicted, but the UN puts it at around 300,000.
Roll call
Here, cadets line up early in the morning at an academy in Kabul to start their day of training. The German Bundeswehr has been helping Afghanistan train its security forces for a over a decade. The goal is for Afghanistan to have its own functioning military and police system to ensure the country's stability after the withdrawal of foreign forces in 2014.
Rough childhood
Here, a boy is disciplined by his teacher. Afghanistan does not have a good education system and many children must leave school early to work and earn money for their families. That is, if they go to school at all.
No access to education
The decades since 1979 have had a drastic effect on education. According to statistics published by the German government in the summer of 2011, around 72 percent of men 93 percent of women had no formal education. The illiteracy rate was around 70 percent.
Burka and barbie
Here, women participating in classes provided by a Malaysian NGO learn how to make dolls. Each class has up to 80 participants. The goal is to help them become independent.
Taliban revenge
After a Taliban attack in the spring of 2011 - shortly after the killing of Osama bin Laden - four people were killed and 36 left wounded. This photo shows two of the injured victims in a hospital.
Sports
Here, two sportsmen relax after their work out. Bodybuilding is one of the most popular sports in Afghanistan.
Harvesting war
The past 30 years have greatly influenced Afghan life - a fact that can be seen in the most unexpected of places.
Madrassas
Here, pupils concentrate at a madrassa in Kandahar, 2011.
Trained to kill
Public dog fighting is very popular in Afghanistan. The dogs are trained to be aggressive and kill their opponent.
Isolated
Those who suffer from psychological ailments are often held in inhumane conditions, isolated from the rest of society. Here, patients of a psychiatric ward lie in chains in the western Afghan city of Herat.
Sad fate
Akram lost both of his arms. He removes both prostheses before going to sleep. He shares this fate with many other children in Afghanistan.
A clear mission
Majid Saeedi tries to portray unspoken social problems, violence and social injustices in his photography. For his achievements Saeedi won first prize of the 2014 addition of the Lucas Dolega Award held in the French capital, Paris.