Mehran Hamrahi

Ghazal, 18, is checking out a manteau in a boutique. After the Islamic Revolution and the mandate for Islamic veil, choosing the right clothing became a challenge for women and girls. Women and girls are obliged to wear manteau or Chador. The manteau should be in a style not contradictory to Islamic rules, otherwise the person would be confined and sentenced to pay a fine. Ahvaz (Southern Iran), May 8th 2013

Navid, 22, is drinking alcoholic beverage with his friends in the courtyard. According to Iran law, if a person drinks alcoholic beverages, he will be lashed 80 times. If he is lashed again for the same crime, he will be sentenced to death penalty. However, there are smuggled 60 to 80 million liters of alcoholic beverages into Iran each year and most of its consumers are the youth. Ahvaz (Southern Iran), May 16th 2013

Fatima, 18, and Farzaneh , 20, are wearing makeup and getting ready to go to shopping. Iran is the seven largest consumer of cosmetics in th world and the first consumer in Middle East. However, the police chief has announced that those girls who wear lots of makeup will be confined. He has called these girls void of identity and morally disordered. Ahvaz (Southern Iran), July 10th 2013

Zia, 28, is playing his electric guitar in his room. He is leader of rock band and dreams of a live performance in a public place. Playing or listening to music is criticized by many Islamic scholars. However, some religious extremists have mistreated and tortured Iranian musicians in some cases, without any clear explanation or justification. In some cases the live concert of some musicians are canceled or interrupted. It is seen that some musicians are confined during their live performance, simply due to lack of permission from the Ministry of Islamic Guidance and sentenced to short imprisonments. Ahvaz (Southern Iran), July 30th 2013

Ali, 26, is talking to his girl friend, Feri who is 25. They prefer to meet each other in their home which is safe. Relationship between single boys and girls is illegal in Iran and meeting out the house might lead them to confinement. Ahvaz (Southern Iran), July 19th 2013

Sheida, 18, is smoking a cigarette in a café. She says " I feel safe in the café". Smoking the cigarette is not restricted legally in Iran, however the girls are afraid of smoking in the public places. The radical Muslims and traditional people consider this as a abominable act for girls and they might annoy them. Ahvaz (Southern Iran), July 1st 2013

(from left to right) Navid, 22; Mehran, 24; and Nima, 30. They are enjoying the loud music while driving the car. They are outside the city to enjoy the loud voice of the music. Due to the lack of recreation, driving through the city and suburban areas without a specific destination has become one of the main entertainments of the youth. Driving the car in the city is not illegal, however the police prohibit the youth from this entertainment. If a car drivers listens to a loud music he/she might be confined and the car will be seized for some days. Ahvaz (Southern Iran), March 27th 2013

Maryam , 29, is playing with her pet. Keeping pet dogs is prohibited in Islam. Those who have dogs, are afraid of bringing their pets to veterinary, because the police might seize the dog and take it to the slaughterhouse. Ahvaz (Southern Iran), July 29th 2013

Arash, 26, is dancing with his friends. This is his 26th birthday party. He offered the policemen 1000 dollars in order not to confine him and his friends. This is forbidden for girls and boys to dance together and in case the police is informed of this, they will be confined. Ahvaz (Southern Iran), March 1st 2013

Mahnaz, 19, is trying to check her Facebook account in her room. Facebook and other social networks are filtered in Iran and the youth have to use VPNs to access these websites. Having an account with Facebook is a crime in Iran, and even it might lead to debarment of somebody from employment in state organizations. Selling VPN and anti filters to people is a crime in Iran and it is considered as action against national security. In case of discovery, the person will be confined and imprisoned. Ahvaz (Southern Iran), July 27th 2013

Mohammad, 27, is wearing tattoo on his chest and arms. Though having tattoo is considered as abominable in Iran, some youth are very interested in having a tattoo. If a person has tattoo on his body, he/she will be not only confined, but also he/she might be deprived of some social rights. For example, if a person has tattoo, he/she can not be employed by a state organization or apply for a driving license. Ahvaz (Southern Iran), July 1st 2013

Azin, 30, is praying in his room. He is grown up in a Muslim family, but inclined toward Christianity , during his adolescence. He has not converted his faith officially, and secretly prays the Jesus Christ. The fine for conversion of the faith is death penalty in islam and those who leave Islam, will be sentenced to death penalty. Ahvaz (Southern Iran), July 21st 2013