Hanin Raed, a sports photographer from Najaf. (Photo: 964media)
'I come from a sports-oriented family'
Najaf woman breaks barriers in sports photography
NAJAF — At 23, Hanin Raed has become the first woman in Najaf to pursue professional football photography. With her camera in hand, she covers matches on the pitch as an officially accredited photographer for the Iraqi Stars League Association.
Her work also includes photographing the AFC Champions League and men’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers, particularly when Iraqi teams are involved. After proving her abilities in a male-dominated field, Raed hopes to cover other regional and global football tournaments such as the FIFA Women’s World Cup. She also aims to document the 2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup in China.
“I am the first female sports photographer in Najaf, and photography is my favorite hobby,” Raed told 964media. “I come from a sports-oriented family.”
Raed said the limited representation of women in Iraqi sports, particularly in photography, motivated her to pursue the field. “Sports photography has become a part of my life, and I have delved deeper into it over time,” she added.
Born in 2003, Raed is officially accredited by the Iraqi Stars League, the country’s top league.