Women of a Revolution

Portraits of Iranian women without hijab at public places in Iran, defying the mandatory hijab law and pursuit of basic human rights.

The series shows portraits of Iranian women without hijab at public places in Iran, defying the mandatory hijab law. Massive protests in Iran began after the arrest and death of Mahsa Jina Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman who was taken into custody by the Islamic Republic’s morality police for allegedly violating the country’s mandatory hijab law. The protest spread rapidly from Amini’s hometown of Saqez to all regions of the country, involving  all age groups, social classes, ethnicities, and genders. The state’s response to protestors’ demands has been swift and severe, many have been injured or killed by state security forces and many more have been arrested. Independent journalists covering the protests have also faced intimidation and the threat of arrest. To demonstrate their opposition to the government, women in Iran have been going out in public without wearing a hijab, turning everyday life into an act of civil disobedience. The photographer began the project before the street demonstrations commenced. However, he was arrested while capturing images of the protests and subsequently sentenced to two years in prison. Despite the challenges, after being released, the photographer continued his project in Iran. Now, he intends to persist with the project, documenting other Iranian women who were forced to flee their country. This includes those sentenced to prison and those who were injured or lost an eye due to security force actions during the protests. Those who have endangered their lives in the pursuit of basic human rights.