Abdul Aziz Holding a Photograph of His Martyred Brother, Mula Abdul Hakim, Afghan Refugee Village, Miran Shah, Northwestern Frontier Province, Pakistan
Fazal Sheikh American
Not on view
Sheikh continued the documentary, journalized approach to the Afghan crisis begun by Grazda, photographing the refugee communities of former Mujahedin fighters and others forced to leave the country following the rise of the Taliban. His photograph of Abdul Aziz is a poignant double portrait in which the hand of the living exile reverently displays a tiny fragile portrait of his martyred brother. Abdul Aziz recounted the story to Sheik:
My brother Mula Abdul Hakim and his group of Mujahedin surrounded the district administration offices in our home village. They captured the area and killed the communists. One of those captured was a teacher who pleaded for his life, saying that he was a fellow Muslim. My brother set him free. Several weeks later the communists retook the area. That same teacher joined them and pointed out those who had been responsible for the attack. He identified my brother. Mula was captured and taken to the office. His body was never returned. In my dreams, he sits beside a pool in a garden silently washing.