Noor Means Light

Who are you?
“I am no one, from nowhere”.

Souna is a 25 year-old young girl from Damascus in Syria. Her family still lives there. She came to Denmark last year as a refugee, seeking safety from the war and religious pressure.

For me a photograph is a self-portrait. Maybe this story is not about the meeting between the portrayed and the photographer, but about how two persons can recognise each other. Maybe the stranger in front of the camera is another version of you?

She lives in Holbaek, one hour out of Copenhagen, where she studies the Danish language hoping to get a job when she is finished. Since Souna came to Denmark she has stopped practicing her religion and using the hijab. Due to these actions she’s facing boycott from the traditional Arabic society. Souna feels like she’s in a transit state, a state that I can relate to. I always ask myself who I am, I don’t know what I am looking for, what I must save, what I must do, how long I may photograph.

Souna is a 25 years old young girl from Damascus in Syria. Her family still lives there. She came to Denmark last year as a refugee, seeking safety from the war and religious pressure. She lives in Holbaek, Denmark. By Svetlana Bulatova
Muslim dress is drying on the rope at the region of refugees at Holbaek, Denmark. By Svetlana Bulatova
Close Muslim party for women at Holbaek. Since Souna came to Denmark she has stopped practicing her religion and using the hijab. Due to these actions she’s facing boycott from the traditional Arabic society. By Svetlana Bulatova
Souna is sitting on the bed at her home. She lives alone. By Svetlana Bulatova
Souna is smoking. Souna feels like she’s in a transit state. By Svetlana Bulatova
Souna's new summer dress.By Svetlana Bulatova
Souna is in the bus after language school. She studies the Danish language hoping to get a job when she is finished.By Svetlana Bulatova

See Also

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zenith Photo Award 2014

The third edition of the zenith Photo Award called upon professional and amateur photographers alike to pick up their cameras and take part in the debate on what Islam in Germany looks like.