Speaking at the opening of the İstanbul Photo Awards 2026 exhibition, held at the AAtölye Exhibition Hall of the Anadolu Agency (AA), Presidency’s Head of Communications, Burhanettin Duran, drew attention to the power of photography to capture a wide range of emotions within a single frame and underscored its indispensable place in human life.
Stating that they were gathered on a platform that duly recognises the value of photojournalism and visual memory, Head of Communications Duran thanked AA Director General Serdar Karagöz and all those involved in organising the event.
Noting that AA, with its more than 106-year history, is a highly distinguished institution in the field of photography, Head of Communications Duran said: “Founded under the challenging conditions of our National Struggle, Anadolu Agency has, through its remarkable performance, evolved into a global brand with a powerful news network, talented staff, and international reach. Equally commendable is the fact that AA has built a strong institutional capacity while fulfilling this historic mission. As our Director General has also noted, it is number one in news photography.”
Emphasising that the İstanbul Photo Awards exhibition is a distinguished reflection of this excellence, Head of Communications Duran stated that the competition, organised since 2015, occupies an exceptional place in the field and has become a highly respected international platform.
Highlighting the role of photojournalists in making the unseen visible and preserving testimony for future generations, Head of Communications Duran said: “When viewed from this perspective, we see that this competition makes a significant contribution both to the profession of photography and, through its archive, to the body of photographic literature. With participants from more than 100 different nationalities, the competition has created an extraordinary visual record. We will shortly have the opportunity to view and reflect on these powerful visual testimonies together.”
“We See Israel’s Oppression and Genocide”
Head of Communications Duran noted that the photographs exhibited and widely recognised by the public possess immense documentary and historical value. He stated that they reflect a broad spectrum of human experiences and challenges, ranging from California to Afghanistan, from Syria to environmental issues such as space debris.
Recalling that this year’s Photo of the Year award was presented to Palestinian photographer Haitham Imad for his photograph entitled “Gaza, No Hope,” Head of Communications Duran went on to say,
“In the photograph, we see two-year-old Sham at Nasser Hospital in the Gaza Strip, lying exhausted in her mother’s arms. This single frame tells us so much. In Sham’s exhaustion, we witness what humanity itself has lost. We see Israel’s oppression and genocide. We see the documentation of a siege, of hunger, and of a deep wound inflicted upon the conscience of humanity.”
Head of Communications Duran also recalled that the 2024 İstanbul Photo Awards featured another image from Nasser Hospital depicting the anguish of a mother embracing the lifeless body of her child. He further noted that the award-winning photograph in 2025 had likewise come from Gaza and captured the indescribable grief of parents mourning children killed by Israel.
Pointing out that this year’s Photo of the Year also comes from Gaza, Head of Communications Duran stated, "Three years, three different photographers, yet the images are almost identical. They are photographs that reveal profoundly painful truths to humanity about Israel’s genocide in Gaza. What do all these images show us? They show the unending suffering in Gaza, the Israeli genocide that the world has failed to stop, and, above all, the pain felt in the conscience of humanity.”
“There Is a Terrible Oppression”
Emphasising that, when it comes to Gaza, Anadolu Agency, TRT, and Türkiye’s media institutions have been among those bringing this painful reality to the world’s attention most clearly and most forcefully, Head of Communications Duran said that there are also media organisations attempting to obscure the genocide taking place in Gaza.
He noted that these organisations have made considerable efforts to portray massacres as “conflict”, occupation as “security”, starvation as a “humanitarian crisis”, and genocide as merely “a consequence of war”, adding:
“In this sense, they have also used algorithms. Yet there is no equal side standing opposite two-year-old Sham in Nasser Hospital. There are oppressors and perpetrators of genocide on one side, and on the other, people struggling with their bare hands to survive and hold on to life. When viewed from this perspective, this is not a matter of journalistic preference, nor is it merely an ethical issue. There is a terrible oppression. This oppression reduces the suffering of the oppressed to statistics while concealing the crimes of the oppressors.
As a country that stands against such a media order, Türkiye embodies the principle articulated by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan through his calls for ‘The world is bigger than five’ and ‘A fairer world is possible’, which entails standing with the oppressed, refusing to legitimise the actions of oppressors, and confronting them. This is of immense importance, and, together with all our institutions, we are actively working to challenge this distorted media order as the Directorate of Communications. As Türkiye, we are making a significant effort not only in diplomacy, but also in the fields of communication and media.”
“AA Correspondents Demonstrated Great Sacrifice”
Head of Communications Duran stated that Türkiye has been successful in this regard and possesses the capacity to reveal what many Western-centred news agencies fail to show. He underlined that Türkiye has the determination to bring to light realities that others seek to conceal.
Head of Communications Duran said: “Naturally, we must first tell our own story, speak about our own suffering, our own concerns, and our own issues. There is no need for imitation, nor any need to seek excuses. At the same time, however, as AA’s photojournalism demonstrates, we strive to tell the story of all humanity. We do this through our own sensitivities and values, yet in a way that embraces all of humanity and is grounded in universal values. I believe this is extremely important.”
Head of Communications Duran stated that some of the values that Western civilisation has long promoted to the world as “universal” have, over time, been shown to be violated by itself. He added that Türkiye, through its institutions, has demonstrated that, without resorting to partisanship and while guided by humanitarian and ethical considerations, it is possible to bear witness to suffering, the plight of the oppressed, what is right, and the truth.
Describing the resulting performance as a source of genuine pride, Head of Communications Duran continued:
“AA has delivered such an outstanding performance in this regard that, as you know, nearly 300 journalists have been martyred in Israel’s massacres, and AA correspondents have also demonstrated tremendous sacrifice. Some lost family members, some lost their lives, some were directly targeted, while others endured hardship in different ways. Yet all of them remained committed to a greater cause and stood in defence of the truth. I once again commemorate with respect and mercy all journalists who were martyred while pursuing the truth in Gaza.
This struggle will continue. We will continue our fight to defend the truth against the hegemonic structures that elites seek to establish through algorithms. For we know that the reality revealed by all these photographs is too powerful to be silenced. We also know that photography endures longer than those who seek to censor it. Conscience is more alive and more powerful than all those centres of power that attempt to suppress it. Therefore, through the İstanbul Photo Awards, we will continue to highlight what is reflected in Sham's gaze and the suffering in Gaza. The fact that photographs from Gaza have received the top award for three consecutive years is no coincidence. The sensitivity demonstrated by humanity is the sensitivity expressed by the public, rather than by governments and dominant media systems. It is a human value.
Head of Communications Duran stressed that Türkiye will continue this struggle with determination, emphasising that all relevant institutions—including the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications, Anadolu Agency, TRT, the Press Advertisement Institution, and the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK)—are acting with the same sense of responsibility.
Noting that this struggle is not merely an institutional duty but also a cause dedicated to defending truth, justice, and the oppressed, Head of Communications Duran stated that Türkiye will continue to uphold this responsibility and remain steadfast in pursuing this cause.
Following his remarks, Head of Communications Duran toured the exhibition together with Anadolu Agency Chairman of the Board and Director General Serdar Karagöz.
Director General Karagöz presented Head of Communications Duran with a book featuring the photographs from İstanbul Photo Awards 2026.
Meanwhile, in a message shared on his NSosyal account regarding the exhibition, Head of Communications Duran stated:
“I was delighted to attend the opening of the Ankara exhibition of the İstanbul Photo Awards, organised for the 12th time this year by our Anadolu Agency.
Today, our Anadolu Agency continues its historic mission across a much broader geography and with a strong institutional capacity. The İstanbul Photo Awards, which opens today, stands as a powerful reflection of this strong institutional heritage.
Since its launch in 2015, the competition has quickly become a respected platform in the field of international news photography. The competition encourages photojournalists working under extremely challenging conditions in different parts of the world, recognises their work, and provides strong international support for the profession of news photography. This year, the ‘Photo of the Year’ award was presented to Palestinian photographer Haitham Imad for his photograph titled ‘Gaza, No Hope’.
Through Anadolu Agency, TRT, and our growing global media reach, we are bringing the world’s overlooked truths to the collective conscience of humanity.
Inspired by our President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s principle that ‘A fairer world is possible,’ Türkiye’s communication vision stands on the side of truth wherever there is oppression and wherever attempts are made to obscure the suffering.
On this occasion, I commemorate with mercy all journalists who lost their lives while carrying out their duties. I also congratulate all photojournalists whose work is featured in the exhibition, as well as everyone who contributed to its organisation, and wish the exhibition every success.”
