Sunglasses

In this picture taken on Friday, Feb. 15, 2008. Reflection of hands are seen on the sunglasses of teacher, Naser Shahabi, who was injured and lost his eyes during Iran-Iraq war. Naser Shahabi was born in 1970 in Maraghe. When he was 17 years old he went to front line of Iran- Iraq battle. He was shot and lost his two eyes in that year. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

In this picture taken on Friday, Feb. 15, 2008. Naser Shahabi sits behind the desk at his classroom, while takes an exam from his students in Moradi blind school in the city of Tabriz, Iran. He graduated in 1999 with the average grade of 17.5 out of 20 from university. It's nearly 10 years that he is teaching philosophy in Moradi blind school. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

In this picture taken on Friday, Feb. 15, 2008. Hand of Naser Shahabi is seen under the sunlight on the paper with braille line, as he reads something during taking exam from his students in Moradi blind school in the city of Tabriz, Iran. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

In this picture taken on Friday, Feb. 15, 2008. Naser Shahabi distributes exam papers in the classroom. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

In this picture taken on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009. Naser Shahabi comes back from school, as he walks in their yard with his white walking stick to going home. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

In this picture taken on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009. Zahra Shahabi 8 years old, is smallest member of the family. She is doing her home works beside his father. While he leans to the wall which a rug with a portrait of the late Iranian revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini hang on it. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

In this picture taken on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009. Naser Shahabi plays with his daughter Zahra, and pushes her on the swing in the yard of his home. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

In this picture taken on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009. Zahra takes the championship medals of her dad from her mother's hands to playing, while her sister Fatemeh is sitting on the bench and her father is running on the treadmill at the gym of home. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

In this picture taken on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009. Naser Shahabi and his family pose for a photograph, as a a poster of the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is seen behind them on the wall of their home gym. Naser Shahabi got married in 1995 with Maryam Kuche Meshki . They have two girls named Fatemeh and Zahra. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

In this picture taken on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009. Naser Shahabi exercises at his home gym. He exercises two hours every day. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

In this picture taken on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009. Naser Shahabi rides bicycle in the yard without help someone. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

In this picture taken on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2008. Naser Shahabi is running with his friends to warm up his body before the start of his training at Ganjavian sport complex. Nearly 7 years which he is playing Judo. He has Kio1 brown belt. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

In this picture taken on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2008. Naser Shahabi takes waist of his friend to throw him during their training competition at Ganjavian sport complex. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

In this picture taken on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2008. Naser Shahabi and his friend compete during their training competition at Ganjavian sport complex. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

In this picture taken on Friday, Feb. 8, 2008. Naser Shahabi is walking with his white stick, as he crosses among the lights of his wife's car. His wife takes him home after training Judo. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

In this picture taken on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009. Naser Shahabi searches on his tapes of library and tests to finding something with walkman to studying. He is studying just by listening. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

In this picture taken on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009. Naser Shahabi sits behind his computer desk, as he waits to coming his wife to help him to working with computer. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

In this picture taken on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009. Maryam Kuche Meshki is helping his husband in researching and working with computer. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

In this picture taken on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009. Zahra likes show her paintings to her father but he can not see. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

In this picture taken on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009. Naser Shahabi is trying to draw his imaginary girls for his daughter Zahra. He has two daughters which has never seen them. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

In this picture taken on Friday, Feb. 8, 2008. Naser Shahabi is praying in Ayatollah Shahidi mosque. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

In this picture taken on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009. Naser Shahabi is standing in front of the wall of Ayatollah Shahidi mosque, which the portraits of the martyrdoms of Azerbaijan who were killed during Iran-Iraq war are displayed on it. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

In this picture taken on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009. Naser Shahabi stands outside of Ayatollah Shahidi mosque and waiting for his wife to take him home. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

In this picture taken on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009. Naser Shahabi takes the hand of his wife, while walking on the sidewalk to going toward their car. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

In this picture taken on Friday, Sept. 18, 2009. Nasser Shahabi and his blind friend, participated in the World Quds Day's march. They have taken the hand of his blind friend's son to move among the people. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

Face and eyes of Naser Shahabi without the sunglasses. When he was 17 years old, he went to front line of Iran- Iraq battle. He was shot and lost his two eyes in that year. People who see his face often with his sunglasses do not understand anything about his background. He has fought to live according to his beliefs. Now this war has silenced an important part of his feelings. Nasser Shahabi is one of the veterans who has lost the opportunity to see his wife and children forever. But he always has hope in life. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

Sunglasses

Stories

Ali Hamed Haghdoust

Tabriz, Iran, 2008 - 2009. Naser Shahabi is a blind devotee who had lost his eyes in Iran-Iraq war by gun shot. He was 17 years old by that time and he had p articipated in the war as a volunteer to support Islam and his country. 8 years of Iran – Iraq war can be discussed in political sphere but it had human fatality and social crisis which is not a solvable problem even after years. Naser Shahabi is one of devotee who is not able to see his wife and children for ever. Although his restriction in life, he is always hopeful and successful. After Islamic revolution of Iran, the battle between Iraq and Iran started. Most of the people including men and women, young and old and even the teenagers went to front line for defending their country. This action changed to be an important cultural act and honor for the people. Without any fear of being killed or losing their body's organs, they went for protecting their country. Now, a lot of people around the world are living like Naser Shahabi who is a victim of conflict. They have a sign of battle with themselves during their life time. Looking at their life could be a step for stopping the worldwide conflicts.