Üsküdar University Founding Rector, psychiatrist, and writer Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan participated in Anadolu Agency's (AA) 'Photos of the Year' voting, which features photographs of events that marked 2023.
Tarhan examined the photographs taken by AA reporters and photojournalists at home and abroad, and evaluated the photos in the 'News', 'Environment and Life', 'Sports', 'Earthquake: Hope', and 'Gaza: Evidence' categories.
The hope of the earthquake
Tarhan, who chose Aytuğ Can Sencar's 'The hope of the earthquake' photo in the 'Earthquake: Hope' category, stated that great sacrifices were made during the February 6 earthquakes, known as the disaster of the century.
Helpless lives
Referring to the sight of the 6-month-old baby rescued from the rubble 29 hours after the earthquake in Hatay, together with the sacrificing workers, Tarhan said, 'Even in such an event, life goes on. The rescue of that child from the earthquake's ruins, the feeling of compassion and hope here, indicates that there is never room for pessimism or despair about the future of humanity, that there will always be a way out, and that life events, while having a threatening aspect, also have an opportunity aspect.'
Sky acrobatics
'This helplessness is the helplessness of the United Nations'
Tarhan, who chose Belal Khaled's 'Helpless lives' photo in the 'Gaza: Evidence' category, noted that the photograph is one of the symbolic photos showing what happened in Gaza.
Sweat of the brow
Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that there is helplessness in the photograph, but not hopelessness, saying, 'Even in helplessness, there is always a way out. There is a reason to live and fight. This photograph very well expresses the shame of global powers who preach human rights but do nothing here. This helplessness is actually the helplessness of the United Nations. This helplessness is not the helplessness of the people here. In 10 or 20 years, this shame will make them bow their heads. It is a photograph that shows the global conscience being wounded.'
Cyclists
Tarhan, who preferred Mahmut Serdar Alakuş's 'Sky acrobatics' in the 'News' category, voted for Murtadha Al-Sudani's 'Sweat of the brow' in 'Environment and Life', and Elif Öztürk Özgöncü's 'Cyclists' in 'Sports'.