Maylee nah Melli
Photo essay: Dressing in Tehran
August 20, 2004
iranian.com
I received several hundred photos from
Schahram yesterday.
They show different aspects of life in Iran, which he recently
visited [see his note]. These particular ones
are interesting because they show how Iranian women are modifying
and
eroding the strict religious
dress rulesc. Incidentally, the ruling
righ-wing conservatives are
considering the introduction of a unified "National Dress" (Lebaas-e
Melli) for women. Good luck!
Last <<< ....
50 photos .... >>> Next
Last <<< ....
50 photos .... >>> Next
I returned to Iran after 23 years, it was a journey
which made a deep impact on me.
I never saw so many well educated young people. So much cultural,
political and scientific potential. And so much suffering,
sadness and apathy.
And an atmosphere like in a communist state. I was in an eastern
European country in 1989, in the year of change in Europe:
An empty state, just a FACADE, totally empty, backed by no one.
This country is a country right before a collapse. But before this
collapse, and here I agree with the people, they want to know which
direction this change will take them.
I think I was the only one who took pictures
with a
mirror reflex digital camera on the streets, because everybody,
including the police was watching me. Even the Basijis (The Moral
Police!) told me at one point to put my camera away immediately,
they raided a mall, so I did. I remembered Zahra Kazemei (Zahra
is an Iranian/Canadian journalist killed at a Persian in Tehran
during last year protest marches) very well.
I think it is our responsibility to show how the women back
home are suffering and struggling under this regime. Pictures
say it all, there is no comment required to show you their desperation.
Once I took pictures in the Tehran bazaar, suddenly a man
appeared from nowhere and he whispered in my ear: 'Try
to take pictures of the young people, try to show their sadness
in the depth of their heart, try to show this on your
pictures!" Then he disappeared.....
There was no time for me to tell him anything; that I have already
been hard at work at this...Born as a spontaneous idea, I
deliberately made pictures to contribute to the women's struggle.
every Iranian I spoke to, I got one clear message: DON'T
THINK WE ARE BEHIND THE TIMES! And more important, TELL THE WORLD
NOT TO FORGET US! WE NEED THEIR HELP TO FREE US!
Schahram
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