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OPEN CALL
01 – 30, MAY 2026

Karim Mottaghi

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN

Iran

The Other Last One!

All the countries of the world were involved in some ways with the outbreak of the Corona virus, but Iran had a different story. Sanctions, domestic and foreign political tensions made the Iranian government less focused on controlling the Coronavirus pandemic. Due to the failure to take timely preventive measures by the responsible institutions and organizations, the prevalence of Coronavirus became more serious in Iran, since March, 2020. It was at the height of the Corona pandemic that vaccine importation became a political issue, resulting in many casualties. I closely observed the stages of bathing, shrouding, funeral and burial rites, also participated in it directly and photographed – or worked with the Vadi-Rahmat cemetery staff, the largest cemetery in north-western Iran – for at least 75 days, from April 7, 2020 to December 02, 2021. Due to the fact that this cemetery, is dedicated to the burial of Muslims, all the shroud and burial rituals of the victims of Coronavirus is done according to the Muslim religion. Despite the health and doctors’ advices, Islamic scholars emphasize the practice of performing these rituals. However, for various reasons, when photography was not possible, I made video images. During this time that I was working with the cemetery staff, I buried many victims, but my mother was the last victim I buried with my own hands on December 17, 2020! She was the last I buried, but other one. It was a great tragedy for me, and made me believe in death more than ever.

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