In a country where the scars of war run deep and the echoes of lost heritage are ever present, doctor-turned-businessman Hasanain Al Ibrahimi has taken on a unique mission – mending the fractures of Iraq’s soul by preserving its cultural memory.
For decades, Iraq has been a landscape of loss, with its rich artistic heritage fractured by decades of war, economic sanctions and political and security instability. Dr Al Ibrahimi has emerged as an unlikely saviour, meticulously assembling the country's largest private collection of modern and contemporary Iraqi art.
“My personal passion for art has turned into a kind of mission, carrying cultural, historical and intellectual responsibilities,” Dr Al Ibrahimi told The National. “It deals with the memory of the nation through knowledge and heritage, which I believe are among the most valuable treasures.”
The anaesthesiologist and intensive care doctor quit his job at the Iraqi Health Ministry in early 1990s, when Iraqi wages averaged between $5 and $25 a month – hardly enough to afford basic necessities. He started working in the private sector until establishing his own company that offers medical equipment and services, focusing on the UN-run oil-for-food scheme that enabled the government to secure the essential needs for Iraqis.
His art collection started as a hobby in 2000, when he bought two paintings by Hafidh Aldroubi (1914-1991), considered one of the pioneers of modern Iraqi art, in Baghdad. Then he acquired several drawings by artists Jewad Selim (1919-1961) and Faik Hassan (1914-1992). By 2003, he had 50 artworks in his collection.
After witnessing the looting and vandalism at the Iraqi National Museum, the National Library and Saddam Hussein Centre for the Arts during the chaos surrounding the 2003 US-led invasion, Dr Al Ibrahimi decided to set aside part of the profits from his AGMEST Group for Investment and Development to build a collection to help preserve Iraqi art. His collection is mainly paintings and drawings, but also includes other artforms.
“All Iraqis were shocked, especially those who follow cultural, artistic and historical affairs,” the 62-year old father of four, who divides his time between Jordanian capital Amman and Baghdad, recalled.
His first post-invasion purchase was 13 works from a retrospective of the painter Shakir Hassan Al Said (1925-2004), an exhibition he financed on condition that he got first pick from the display.
“By then, the journey of collecting had started, and when you start that journey every new piece that enters your collection entangles you further in the passion of art,” said Dr Al Ibrahimi, with a smile.
Like many other middle-class Iraqis, Dr Al Ibrahimi’s family had settled in the Jordanian capital Amman after the 1991 Gulf War to escape Saddam Hussein’s regime and UN sanctions imposed on Iraq. Being in Amman gave him access to more Iraqi art, as many new arrivals sold artworks they had brought with them, in order to raise funds.
In July 2014, after ISIS overran the northern city of Mosul and other parts of Iraq, it launched a campaign to destroy archaeological and heritage sites, which the militant group considered pagan, and Islamic sites it considered idolatrous.
“After that, the conviction strengthened that we are a country constantly facing dangers, and it is essential to do something to preserve this memory,” said Dr Al Ibrahimi. By then, he had accumulated about 1,500 artworks.
In 2015, he launched the official website for the Ibrahimi Collection, with the biographies of more than 250 Iraqi artists. Two years later, he modified his company’s four-storey headquarters in Amman to display the collection in a gallery that was open to the public for the first time.
As the collection grew to about 3,000 works, he divided it between Amman and Baghdad, where he opened the first privately funded public art gallery in November last year.
“Baghdad is the cradle of the Iraqi art movement, and therefore, being present here is essential,” he said, gesturing to the works inside his gallery.
Glory days and struggles
The quiet calm of the Baghdad gallery is broken only by the gentle strains of classical music. The artworks on display, predominantly by pioneers of Iraqi art, vibrate with the untold stories of a nation. Each brushstroke carries the weight of an Iraqi heyday – the golden era of cultural flourishing – but also casts a shadow on the darker chapters of its history.
Among them is Fragments, an oil painting on canvas by Hassan. The 72cm x 193cm work, which is dated 1977, is unusual in both size and style for the painter, according to Dr Al Ibrahimi.
“Against a pale indigo background, fragments float like a panorama on the canvas surface, evoking the walls and ruins of ancient Iraqi relics. Just as those relics have remained in the form of mere fragments, like a puzzle waiting to be solved, the elements in this painting also appear separated and incomplete,” Dr Ibrahimi writes in one of his five books that document Iraqi art from the beginning of the 20th century to the present day.
“Dominated by shades of blue, the artwork conveys a sense of mystery and nostalgia for the past, inviting the viewer to reflect on Iraq’s ancient history and the beauty of its remaining fragment.”
“This artwork is not only a departure from the artist's usual style, but it is also considered an extremely rare piece, being the largest abstract work by the artist to date to have been surfaced on the global market,” he writes.
Other works show how Iraqi pioneers were influenced by European styles and artists after spending years in Europe, before shifting to local themes. In one corner, an oil on canvas by Jewad Selim – best known for the Freedom Monument in Baghdad's Tahrir Square, commemorating the 1958 revolution – is titled A Boy as Pierrot, after Jean-Honore Fragonard’s Painting.
Opposite it are two works by his wife Lorna Selim (1928-2021), depicting old Baghdadi houses, captured in browns and its shades before their removal during modernisation of the city in the 1960s.
Two oil paintings from 1975 by Faisel Laibi Sahi show the brutal side of Iraq's history with mangled and wounded bodies. Titled Al Nehaia (The End) Palace Prison, 1 and 2, they are named after a place notorious for the torture and execution of dissidents during the 1960s.
Despite the quiet, the gallery is noisy in spirit. The artworks tell a complex tale – one of a nation’s glory days, but also of its struggles and scars.
“Whenever I see the look of astonishment and admiration in the eyes of every visitor who arrives here at this place or in Amman, I feel a sense of pride and exhilaration,” said Dr Al Ibrahimi.
“A person should always light a candle, even in the darkest times.”
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
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In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
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The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
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Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Results:
6.30pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah (PA) | Group 2 | US$55,000 (Dirt) | 1,600 metres
Winner: AF Al Sajanjle, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
7.05pm: Meydan Sprint (TB) | Group 2 | $250,000 (Turf) | 1,000m
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7.40pm: Firebreak Stakes | Group 3 | $200,000 (D) | 1,600m
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8.15pm: Meydan Trophy Conditions (TB) | $100,000 (T) | 1,900m
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8.50pm: Balanchine Group 2 (TB) | $250,000 (T) | 1,800m
Winner: Poetic Charm, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) | $135,000 (D) | 1,200m
Winner: Lava Spin, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
10pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (T) | 2,410m
Winner: Mountain Hunter, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE
Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home
Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
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The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
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Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Zimbabwe v UAE, ODI series
All matches at the Harare Sports Club:
1st ODI, Wednesday, April 10
2nd ODI, Friday, April 12
3rd ODI, Sunday, April 14
4th ODI, Tuesday, April 16
UAE squad: Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
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Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Wicked: For Good
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Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
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MATCH INFO
Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')
Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
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General Organisation of Radio and TV
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Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species
Camelpox
Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.
Falconpox
Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.
Houbarapox
Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
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Price: On request
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
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Zakat definitions
Zakat: an Arabic word meaning ‘to cleanse’ or ‘purification’.
Nisab: the minimum amount that a Muslim must have before being obliged to pay zakat. Traditionally, the nisab threshold was 87.48 grams of gold, or 612.36 grams of silver. The monetary value of the nisab therefore varies by current prices and currencies.
Zakat Al Mal: the ‘cleansing’ of wealth, as one of the five pillars of Islam; a spiritual duty for all Muslims meeting the ‘nisab’ wealth criteria in a lunar year, to pay 2.5 per cent of their wealth in alms to the deserving and needy.
Zakat Al Fitr: a donation to charity given during Ramadan, before Eid Al Fitr, in the form of food. Every adult Muslim who possesses food in excess of the needs of themselves and their family must pay two qadahs (an old measure just over 2 kilograms) of flour, wheat, barley or rice from each person in a household, as a minimum.
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More coverage from the Future Forum
F1 2020 calendar
March 15 - Australia, Melbourne; March 22 - Bahrain, Sakhir; April 5 - Vietnam, Hanoi; April 19 - China, Shanghai; May 3 - Netherlands, Zandvoort; May 20 - Spain, Barcelona; May 24 - Monaco, Monaco; June 7 - Azerbaijan, Baku; June 14 - Canada, Montreal; June 28 - France, Le Castellet; July 5 - Austria, Spielberg; July 19 - Great Britain, Silverstone; August 2 - Hungary, Budapest; August 30 - Belgium, Spa; September 6 - Italy, Monza; September 20 - Singapore, Singapore; September 27 - Russia, Sochi; October 11 - Japan, Suzuka; October 25 - United States, Austin; November 1 - Mexico City, Mexico City; November 15 - Brazil, Sao Paulo; November 29 - Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi.
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 2
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Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')
![Al Nehaia [The End] Palace Prison (1971), by Faisel Laibi Sahi](https://www.thenationalnews.com/resizer/v2/CJL6LEZD3NAA3M3OPX44W6BM3I.jpg?smart=true&auth=17f1125bbef9154f22c342758331cb065538d1a4293129fec85216bd73bfe6a7&width=800&height=450)
![Al Nehaia [The End] Palace Prison (1975), by Faisel Laibi Sahi](https://www.thenationalnews.com/resizer/v2/GMCSHUUAANAWNGEQB5GUVJJENQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=973347e57ba30e0f652bdd0d03887be96e8e2b2a76c2b790321f7401bb569000&width=800&height=450)
