Portraits of Acid Attack Survivors

Since 1999, more than 3,100 people in Bangladesh have been disfigured by acid attacks. Danish photographer Ken Hermann turned his camera to survivors of these horrific assaults and returned with poignant portraits that emphasize the resilience of victims who have been scarred for life.
Ken Hermann
Portraits of Acid Attack Survivors

Name: Abdul Kader | Age: 48 | Attack date: July 30, 1987 | Reason: Land dispute | Relationship with the perpetrator: Cousin | Legal condition of the case: Case filed in 1987 but no subsequent action taken.
Ken Hermann
Portraits of Acid Attack Survivors

Name: Runa Laila | Age: 30 | Occupation: Employee of Acid Survivors Foundation | Attack date: April 16, 1998 | Reason: Rejection of love affair | Relationship with the perpetrator: Neighbor | Legal condition of the case: The perpetrator has been punished by the rules of Bangladeshi Law.
Ken Hermann
Portraits of Acid Attack Survivors

Name: Jahanara Akhtar Parul | Age: 27 | Occupation: Employee of Acid Survivors Foundation | Attack Date: March 10, 2001 | Reason: Family related dispute | Relationship with the perpetrator: Cousin | Legal condition of the case: Mutually resolved.
Ken Hermann
Portraits of Acid Attack Survivors

Name: Monira Begum | Age: 24 | Occupation: Student | Attack date: March 5, 1998 | Reason: Revenge for previous conflict | Relationship with the perpetrator: Father's employer | Legal condition of the case: The perpetrator has been punished by the rules of Bangladeshi law.
Ken Hermann
Portraits of Acid Attack Survivors

Name: Asma Aktar | Age: 25 | Occupation: Employee of Acid Survivors Foundation | Attack Date: Sept. 17, 2002 | Reason: Family related dispute | Relationship with the perpetrator: Neighbor | Legal condition of the case: Perpetrator has been punished by the rules of Bangladeshi law.
Ken Hermann
Portraits of Acid Attack Survivors

Name: Anita Bala | Age: 30 | Occupation: Farmer | Attack date: Feb. 18, 2002 | Reason: Refusal of marriage proposal | Relationship with the perpetrator: Neighbor | Legal condition of the case: Pending.
Ken Hermann
Portraits of Acid Attack Survivors

Name: Mokammala Rita | Age: 43 | Occupation: Employee of Acid Survivors Foundation | Attack Date: April 16, 1998 | Reason: Victimized as her sister Runa Laila, another survivor, rejected love proposal | Relationship with the perpetrator: Neighbor | Legal condition of the case: The perpetrator has been punished by the rules of Bangladeshi Law.
Ken Hermann
Portraits of Acid Attack Survivors

Name: Umma Aysha Siddike Nila | Age: 22 | Occupation: Student | Attack date: Feb. 19, 2008 | Reason: Marital dispute | Relationship with the perpetrator: Husband | Legal condition of the case: Case is in High Court for appeal but pending due to financial and bureaucratic problems.
Ken Hermann
Portraits of Acid Attack Survivors

Name: Popy Rani Das | Age: 22 | Occupation: None, currently resides in Acid Survivors Foundation Hospital | Attack date: Sept. 7, 2009
Reason: Dowry | Relationship with the perpetrator: Husband | Legal condition of the case: Case is active.
Ken Hermann
Portraits of Acid Attack Survivors

Name: Shamsun Nahar | Age: 43| Occupation: Housewife | Attack Date: Dec. 17, 1998 | Reason: Refusal to engage in affair | Relationship with the perpetrator: Private tutor of her children | Legal condition of the case: Perpetrator has been punished by the rules of Bangladeshi law.
Ken Hermann
Portraits of Acid Attack Survivors

Name: Ayesha Akter | Age: 27 Occupation: Employee of Acid Survivors Foundation | Attack Date: April 26, 2000 | Reason: Rejection of marriage proposal | Relationship with the perpetrator: Distant grandfather | Legal condition of the case: Perpetrator has been punished by the rules of Bangladeshi law.
Ken Hermann
Portraits of Acid Attack Survivors

Name: Monirujjaman Masud | Age: 27 | Occupation: Employee of Acid Survivors Foundation | Attack Date: Oct. 28, 1998 | Reason: Mother rejected marriage proposal of perpetrator, i.e., he was not main target | Relationship with the perpetrator: Neighbor | Legal condition of the case: Mutually resolved.
Ken Hermann
Portraits of Acid Attack Survivors

Name: Shamim Sheikh | Age: 45 | Occupation: Employee of Acid Survivors Foundation | Attack Date: Aug. 1, 1984 | Reason: Revenge for engaging in extramarital affair | Relationship with the perpetrator: Husband of the woman the victim was having an affair with | Legal condition of the case: Mutually resolved.
Ken Hermann
Portraits of Acid Attack Survivors

Name: Hasen Ali | Age: 58 | Occupation: Farmer | Attack Date: March 3, 1996 | Reason: Dispute over stolen bicycle | Relationship with the perpetrator: Neighbor | Legal condition of the case: Pending.
Ken Hermann
Portraits of Acid Attack Survivors

Name: Selina Khatun | Age: 42 | Occupation: Housewife | Attack date: June 6, 1995 | Reason: Refusal of marriage | Relationship with the perpetrator: Cousin | Legal condition of the case: Pending.
Ken Hermann
Portraits of Acid Attack Survivors

Name: Shamsun Nahar | Age: 29 | Occupation: Housewife | Attack Date: March 9, 2006 | Reason: Land Dispute |
Relationship with the perpetrator: Relative | Legal condition of the case: Pending.
Ken Hermann
Portraits of Acid Attack Survivors

Name: Shamol | Age: 14 | Occupation: Student | Attack date: Feb. 18, 2002 | Reason: Mother's refusal of marriage proposal from perpetrator, i.e., was not main target | Relationship with the perpetrator: Neighbor | Legal condition of the case: Pending.
Ken Hermann
Portraits of Acid Attack Survivors

Name: Monjurul Alam Mojnu | Age: 48 | Occupation: Day laborer | Attack date: May 15, 1985 | Reason: Marital dispute | Relationship with the perpetrator: Neighbor | Legal condition of the case: Pending. <html><body><a href=" http://bit.ly/18mJGLO" target="_blank"><u> Ken Hermann </u></a></body></html> has a degree in advertising photography and his work has been exhibited around the world.
Ken Hermann