Ghaith Abdul-Ahad
Ghaith Abdul-Ahad | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1975 Baghdad, Iraq |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist, Photographer |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Known for | War reporting in Iraq, Somalia, Sudan, Afghanistan, Libya, and Syria; contributions to The Guardian and The Washington Post |
| Notable work | A Stranger in Your Own City: Travels in the Middle East's Long War |
Ghaith Abdul-Ahad (Arabic: غيث عبدالأحد, born in 1975) is an Iraqi reporter who embarked on his journalism career following the U.S. invasion of Iraq. His written work has appeared in The Guardian and The Washington Post, while his photographic contributions have been featured in prominent outlets such as The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, and The Times (London), among others. Abdul-Ahad’s reporting extends beyond Iraq, covering regions including Somalia, Sudan, Afghanistan, Libya, and Syria.
He has been honored with multiple distinguished awards, notably the Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism, the James Cameron Memorial Trust Award, the Foreign Reporter of the Year at the British Press Awards, and the Orwell Prize.
His book, titled A Stranger in Your Own City: Travels in the Middle East's Long War, released on March 14, 2023, provides a detailed perspective on life and conflict both before and after Iraq’s invasion.
Background
Abdul-Ahad was born in Baghdad and pursued architectural studies at Baghdad University. Prior to the 2003 Iraq invasion, he had never traveled outside the country. After deserting Saddam Hussein’s military forces, he lived covertly within Baghdad for six years, frequently changing locations to evade arrest.
Starting in 2001, he took up street photography to capture Baghdad’s wartime reality. This activity led to his detention just before major combat concluded; however, he secured his release by bribing his captors.
Career
Following the 2003 Iraq invasion, Abdul-Ahad worked as a freelance photographer for Getty Images and began reporting for the British newspaper The Guardian from 2004 onward.
In October 2005, he contributed to Unembedded: Four Independent Photojournalists on the War in Iraq, a publication showcasing his photographs alongside those of Kael Alford, Thorne Anderson, and Rita Leistner.
In October 2010, Abdul-Ahad was held captive for five days by Taliban forces during an interview attempt.
During February 2011, he entered Libya to cover the 2011 Libyan civil war but was captured by Libyan Army troops in Sabratha on March 2. His colleague, Brazilian journalist Andrei Netto from O Estado de S. Paulo, was released on March 10 due to diplomatic ties between Brazil and Libya. On March 13, organizations including Amnesty International advocated for Abdul-Ahad’s freedom; following negotiations by the Turkish government and intervention by editor Alan Rusbridger in Tripoli, he was released on March 16.
More recently, Abdul-Ahad has concentrated on reporting from Syria during its civil war, documenting rebel factions and their ongoing conflict with loyalist forces.
Awards
- Recipient of the Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism, 2005
- Awarded the James Cameron Memorial Trust Award, 2007
- Honored as Foreign Reporter of the Year at the British Press Awards, 2008
- Winner of the Orwell Prize for Journalism, 2014
- Earned News & Documentary Emmy Awards for Best Story in a News Magazine and Outstanding Coverage of a Breaking News Story in a News Magazine, 2017