Kamaran Najm ( Kurdish: ''کامەران نەجم'') is an Iraqi

photojournalist Photojournalism is journalism that uses images to tell a news story. It usually only refers to still images, but can also refer to video used in broadcast journalism. Photojournalism is distinguished from other close branches of photography (suc ...

. He was captured by the

Islamic State The Islamic State (IS), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and Daesh, is a transnational Salafi jihadism, Salafi jihadist organization and unrecognized quasi-state. IS ...

in June 2014.

Early life

Najm was born in

Kirkuk Kirkuk (; ; ; ) is a major city in northern Iraq, serving as the capital of the Kirkuk Governorate. The city is home to a diverse population of Kurds, Iraqi Turkmen, Iraqi Turkmens and Arabs. Kirkuk sits on the ruins of the original Kirkuk Cit ...

Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...

, in 1987 to a family of five children. During the

Iraq War The Iraq War (), also referred to as the Second Gulf War, was a prolonged conflict in Iraq lasting from 2003 to 2011. It began with 2003 invasion of Iraq, the invasion by a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition, which ...

, his family was displaced and lived in a

refugee camp A refugee camp is a temporary Human settlement, settlement built to receive refugees and people in refugee-like situations. Refugee camps usually accommodate displaced people who have fled their home country, but camps are also made for in ...

for a period when he was approximately fifteen years old.

Career

Najm has collaborated with international news organizations, including

Reuters Reuters ( ) is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide writing in 16 languages. Reuters is one of the largest news agencies in the world. The agency ...

and the

Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American not-for-profit organization, not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association, and produces news reports that are dist ...

. His work has also been featured in prominent publications such as ''

The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'', locally known as ''The'' ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'' or ''WP'', is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the national capital. It is the most widely circulated newspaper in the Washington m ...

'', ''Vanity Fair'', ''The Times of London'', and the ''

Financial Times The ''Financial Times'' (''FT'') is a British daily newspaper printed in broadsheet and also published digitally that focuses on business and economic Current affairs (news format), current affairs. Based in London, the paper is owned by a Jap ...

''. In 2010, Najm founded Metrography, a photo agency based in Iraq, with American photojournalist Sebastian Meyer. Their vision was to establish an independent photojournalism sector in Iraq that transcends ethnic, cultural, and religious divides. Metrography fosters collaboration and learning among photographers, while celebrating the rich diversity and history of the country. The agency has gained international recognition, with the work of its photographers featured in exhibitions and published by various media outlets.

Disappearance

Najm was captured by militants from the extremist group

on June 12, 2014, while documenting the war between the militants and Kurdish Peshmerga forces near Mullah Abdullah, a village close to

, according to his family and a colleague.

References

{{Authority control 1987 births 2014 deaths Journalism occupations Photography by genre Stock photography Types of journalism Visual journalism People from Sulaymaniyah Documentary photography Iraqi photojournalists