Five decades of experience
Mohammed the Painter: Preserving Tuz Khurmatu’s history through art
TUZ KHURMATU — Mohammed Zeinalabideen, known locally as “Mohammed the Painter,” has spent more than half a century dedicated to the art of painting and drawing, with some of his works selling for as much as $10,000.
“I have been painting and drawing for more than 50 years and have earned over 70 local and international certificates,” Mohammed told 964media.
He explained that his work captures the character of many prominent local figures, combining them into a historical depiction of Khurmatu.
Tuz Khurmatu, located between the districts of Kifri and Daquq, is now under the administration of Salah Al-Din province. The district’s diverse population includes Kurds, Shia Turkmens, and Arabs, and is home to both Sunni and Shia Muslims, as well as followers of the Kakayi faith.
Mohammed has taught nearly 60 students in painting and drawing, with several of his top students gaining wide recognition.
He operates a small shop in the bustling marketplace of Khurmatu, where he is a well-known figure, always dressed in white—a choice he made after enduring traumatic experiences under the former Baath regime.
He and his family suffered severe oppression, and he was tortured by Baathist members, once being beaten so badly that his clothes were soaked in blood. Since then, he has vowed to wear only white, symbolizing a fresh start and peace.
The Baath regime, which ruled Iraq from 1968 to 2003 under Saddam Hussein, was notorious for its brutal repression, widespread torture, and mass executions of political opponents, ethnic minorities, and dissidents.
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