Life Fighters

Decades after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, we have been imposed upon with defined ideological principles that have dictated how we live our lives. Our historical and cultural heritage, which forms our identity, has been deliberately destroyed and stolen. Meanwhile, Iran’s new generation and women are daily fighting to obtain public space that aligns with their values and lifestyle, rooted in their history and national identity. This struggle revolves around issues such as the mandatory hijab, basic human rights, individual freedoms, women’s rights, and freedom of choice, all of which are visibly contested in the public sphere. In particular, the death of Mahsa Amini and widespread protests over it have further deepened the generational divide between them and the government. The government has intensified its efforts to suppress women who oppose mandatory hijab. Indeed, the refusal to wear hijab has become a symbol of civil resistance among Iranian women and young people who admire life, freedom, and beauty.

1: A bunch of people from all walks of life are gathered in the lobby of the National Museum of Iran. It was built during the first Pahlavi dynasty of Iran in 1934 as a symbol of nationalism and modernization.

2: Two young girls are getting their photos taken while wearing mandatory hijabs in the tomb of the famous Persian poet, Saadi.

3: Two different generations are taking photos in the central deserts of Iran. Iran's Generation Z does not adhere to idealism and ideological idealizations like the previous generation. Therefore, they do not respect patriarchal laws and regulations of the Islamic Republic, such as the mandatory hijab.

4: The wall paintings in Chehel Sotoon Palace belong to the Safavid dynasty from 1501 to 1736. They were destroyed by the Qajar kings (1789-1797) due to religious extremism and non- Islamic paintings depicting the themes of courtship, dance, and wine.

5: Audiences are visiting the Armenian Music Museum at Vank Cathedral – Julfa, Isfahan, Iran.

6: A young girl visits Takht-e Soleyman, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in West Azarbaijan Province, without adhering to the mandatory hijab rules.

7: Rural women gather together for the Ashura mourning religious ritual in the mountainous area of Gilan, Iran.

8: People are watching images of the kings of Iran at the Armenian Museum at Vank Cathedral in Julfa, Iran.

9: A group of young girls play ice hockey as a new sport, despite existing restrictions on what they can do in various sports disciplines.

10: Despite imposing restrictions on relationships and friendships between boys and girls, they develop their casual dating and shape open relationships.

11: A wandering man on Hormuz Island, a remote island in the Persian Gulf.

12: A woman is riding a motorcycle. Women's motorcycle riding has become a daily struggle, as riding a motorcycle for women is illegal in Iran, and women cannot get a motorcycle license.

13: The vast majority of women refuse to wear headscarves in Naqsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan, while the morality police patrol the streets to enforce hijab laws.

14: A group of religious women visit Katle khor cave, Zanjan province, Iran. A minority of Iranian society yet believes the black Chador that covers a female's body completely, to show their support for the regime and their religious ideology.

15: A family spends their vacation on the shores of the Caspian Sea, which is the most popular destination for Iranian people to spend their leisure time pleasantly. The women are not allowed to swim in the sea because of the strict lows, so they are forced to go to the sea with clothes and coverings.

16: Some tourists are watching Persepolis Palace, one of the most ancient civilizations in history, through VR glasses.