Sharjah 24 – AFP: Two years ago, Marseille devoted an exhibition to contemporary artists from Afghanistan. Today, some have found refuge in this Mediterranean city and want to continue creating, despite the nostalgia.

Camera in hand, Naseer Turkmani explores his new land of welcome. This 31-year-old photographer is one of ten Afghan artists evacuated to France since the Taliban took power at the end of August.

“Everything went very quickly. For us artists, journalists, activists, government employees, it was too dangerous to stay,” he said.

After six days of waiting at the French Embassy in Kabul and several failures to flee with his family, Naseer manages to reach the airport. His wife and son will not be able to accompany him.

Since his arrival, he has been hosted by the Iméra foundation of the University of Aix-Marseille, one of the cultural institutions that enabled Afghan artists to obtain their visa.

Passionate about fashion photography and visual art, he hopes to join the National School of Photography in Arles and “start from scratch”: “I hope that many Afghans like me will leave Afghanistan, that they will work hard, try to study and come back (…) and help our compatriots “.