Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hacımüftüoğlu, the Rector of Atatürk University, was a participant in the annual "Snapshots of the Year" vote, which is organized by Anadolu Agency (AA). He selected from a collection of exceptional photographs captured by AA reporters and photojournalists in Turkey and abroad throughout 2025.

Rector Hacımüftüoğlu selected the photograph taken by Murat Şengül in the special category "Free Syria" to immortalize the moment when the people of Damascus, the capital of Syria, celebrated the overthrow of the 61-year Baath regime and the end of the Assad family era on the tanks belonging to the regime in Umayyad Square.

He preferred Şebnem Coşkun's photograph in the Natural Life and Environment category, which depicted the research conducted by Turkish scientists on glaciers in the Arctic Ocean as part of the 4th National Arctic Scientific Research Expedition, which was headed by the Ministry of Industry and Technology. Hacımüftüoğlu underscored the significance of scientific research on a global scale, noting that Atatürk University also dispatches scientists to this region at specific intervals during the selection process.

The photo that Israel's massive devastation of the streets of Khan Yunus in the Gaza Strip rendered unrecognizable was described by Hacımüftüoğlu as the most painful form of savagery in the News category. He also stated that these frames reveal the human tragedy that is being experienced.

Rector Hacımüftüoğlu selected Osmancan Gürdoğan's photograph in the Daily Life category, which depicts the moment when the mine workers who unearthed the "black diamond" coal from meters deep in Zonguldak were taking a lunch break. He regarded this frame as one of the most powerful representations of labor and sweat.

In the Sports category, Mustafa Yalçın selected the photograph in which a group of supporters in the stands held up a banner reading "Genocide Olympics" during the Israeli and Paraguayan football teams' match at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hacımüftüoğlu expressed his perspective on the voting process to Anadolu Agency Erzurum Regional Manager Yunus Okur, stating, "Every frame captured by Anadolu Agency is a significant moment in history." It is exceedingly challenging to select, but we have ascertained our own preferences from these frames. I would like to express my gratitude to the AA employees who captured these images and serve as ambassadors for our nation worldwide.

Photographs selected from over one million frames from various regions of the world, including the United States, Pakistan, Ukraine, the Arctic Ocean, Palestine, Scotland, and Turkey, are being submitted for global voting with Turkish and English subtitles.

The "yilinkareleri.aa.com.tr" website will host the AA Frames of the Year voting until 17:00 on January 31, 2025.

CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTORATE – January 29, 2025