Abbas, his Berets

Born a photographer, Abbas is an Iranian transplanted to Paris. He has dedicated himself to documenting the political and social life of societies in conflict. In his major work since 1970 he has covered wars and revolutions in Biafra, Bangladesh, Northern Ireland, Vietnam, the Middle East, Chile, Cuba, and South Africa during apartheid.

Sarajevo. 1993. A Bosnian soldier in uniform checks his gun. On his right is his fiancee, wearing the hijab. Only a minute number of women wear the Islamic hijab in Sarajevo.

Saudi Arabia. A French Foreign Legion officer with shepherds. 1990.

 Funeral of a militant of the IRA killed by British forces.

Hautes-Pyrenees department. Town of Lourdes. 1995. Gave River, flowing by the grotto. A Catholic priest, wearing the old fashioned gown, prays.