By Caitlin Maloney
Karim Ben Khelifa has been to Iraq. He’s been to Belgium, France, Somalia, America, Cuba, Yemen, and numerous other countries. Now he is coming to Hempstead.
Next week Khelifa, an award-winning photojournalist, will be presenting a slide show in the Cultural Center Theater of his most recent endeavors photographing the Taliban in Afghanistan.
His photos have been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Greenpeace Magazine, Der Spiegel, Stern and many other publications.
According to a Univeristy press release, “Mr. Ben Khelifa has covered the continuing conflicts and resulting refugee crises in Iraq, Afghanistan and Israel/Palestine; Muslim communities in Europe; globalization protests in Seattle; and the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City.”
The event was arranged by Daniel Varisco, an anthropology professor, and is open to all University students and alumni.
Due to the significant interest expressed by the community, the event was moved from a classroom to a larger venue.
“People see pictures all time, but [the pictures] don’t always have this passion, this ability to move you,” Varisco said. “The opportunity to talk with and meet the photographer, who in this case is truly an artist, is an unusual one.”
Varisco and Khelifa met a few years ago in Yemen while Khelifa was working on a series of photographs. Following Khelifa’s recent work in Iraq and Afghanistan, Varisco requested that he visit the University to speak and present photos to his Middle East studies class.
One aspect of Khelifa’s work that distinguished him from peers is his unique and highly controversial opportunity to travel with the Taliban.
“His work is quite relevant,” Varisco said. “He has traveled with the Taliban, with the [American] troops, with the insurgents in Iraq. He was able to photograph Yasser Arafat’s funeral…these things are all rather dangerous.”
Khelifa said that the most important and interesting subjects he has photographed are “the ones we don’t see in the news. The things that generally don’t get coverage tend to represent the largest group of people. Reality becomes very different under mainstream media coverage.”
The presentation will pertain to “a broad range of people, anyone who is interested in news and what is happening in the world,” said Khelifa.
Varisco called the presentation a “great opportunity for students interested in photojournalism.”
Photojournalist Karim Ben Khelifa will present a slide show of his recent work on Tuesday, Sept. 18, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. in the Cultural Center Theater. For more information, visit www.karimbenkhelifa.com
A Karim Ben Khelifa photo of Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat’s funeral.