Fargo student's photo honored by New York Times

higher resolution copy.jpeg — This photo by Fargo South High School student Hadiya Farrahmand was among finalists for the grand prize in a New York Times photo contest.

By David Olson

November 26, 2022 at 4:15 AM

FARGO — A senior at Fargo South High School recently had her photography skills recognized by the New York Times.

Though it did not win a grand prize, a photo that Hadiya Farrahmand took of herself using a tripod was among a handful of finalists vying for the top honor in the School of New York Times 2022 Summer Academy Photojournalism Challenge.

The photo shows Farrahmand wearing a burqa in the foreground, with the New York harbor and the Statue of Liberty in the background.

Farrahmand said the recognition she has received for the photo, which captures her raising one arm in a pose similar to the Statue of Liberty's, means a lot to her.

"This picture is the voice of millions of Afghan women who have lost their basic human rights, the right of education, and work under the Taliban government. Unfortunately, Afghan women have been forgotten by the international community, especially the United States of America," Farrahmand said.

When she heard about the Times' photojournalism program, Farrahmand decided to participate and the first thing that came to mind was to raise awareness about the current situation in Afghanistan and how Afghan women are desperate for help and support.

"This picture is the voice of the Afghan women who want to be liberal, free and fearless just like the Statue of Liberty," Farrahmand said of her photo.

Farrahmand said her time in New York City was interesting and brought home to her how the Sept. 11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Center was tied to the fate of her home country of Afghanistan, including the collapse of the Taliban government there in 2001 and the subsequent establishment of a democratic government that lasted until the Taliban again took power.

Farrahmand said she hopes her photograph will remind Americans, and American women in particular, "to not forget Afghan women."

By David Olson

I'm a reporter and a photographer and sometimes I create videos to go with my stories.

I graduated from Minnesota State University Moorhead and in my time with The Forum I have covered a number of beats, from cops and courts to business and education.

I've also written about UFOs, ghosts, dinosaur bones and the planet Pluto.

You may reach me by phone at 701-241-5555, or by email at dolson@forumcomm.com

Fargo student's photo honored by New York Times

Hadiya Farrahmand said when she heard about the New York Times' photojournalism program, she decided to participate and the first thing that came to mind was to raise awareness about the current situation in Afghanistan and how Afghan women are desperate for help and support.