The Kalashnikov is the weapon of revolution—reliable and easy to maintain. We know who is holding it. Her name is Runak Bapir Gherib, written in the bottom left corner. She is Yazidi, and she carries the rifle to protect her family. She looks at us—are we a threat or not?
The Yazidis are a religious minority from the Middle East who were horrifically persecuted by ISIS. The women were often made into sex slaves. Many Yazidi women, however, bravely fought back.
Runak can be found on the internet. At the time the photo was taken, she was only 14. To her right, the name Otelo Kali is visible, but he’s far less interesting. The focus is on her. That’s not to say there isn’t much more to discover in the image, but your admiration naturally goes to her.