Finalist
“Unripe Passion”, Picked Too Soon
Zohre Sabagh Nejad
Independent
Iran
Afghan immigrants have a long history of coexistence with the people of Iran. These two countries are speaking the same Persian language and have believe in the common religion of Islam. In these years, about 3 million Afghans entered Iran, half of whom are legal immigrants. They are totally banned from living in 15 provinces. Regardless of the policy of different countries to deal with an immigrant community, Additionally, their religion and traditions also increases the pressures on a large body of the society who are and children and women. This includes deciding on the level of education for children, choosing a spouse for a girl, determining the age of her marriage, the details like her dress and makeup, not considering the desire of women for consecutive pregnancies and bigamy are just some of the examples of taking their freedom. They only color and acquaint this alien black for themselves with the help of their feminine glaze. The girl is suddenly expected to behave like adult and thinks that being in the position of a woman who has a husband brings her more freedom of action. In this situation, the custom that ignores their childhood, adolescence, education and dreams, suddenly happen to have different plans for each part of the marriage process. Fortunately, with the global influence of the media in the world, girls are gradually demanding their basic and obvious rights, peacefully or through war. Afghans' interest in celebrating considers religious ceremonies such as Eid al-Adha are one of the most important days of the year for them. A few days before this, the men of the family go to the slaughterhouse and buy the sheep or cow depending their financial budget. From the morning until the night of Eid, families are excited and then men go to the part in the yard where they consider sacrificing. Despite killing the animals is public, this feels like a celebration for them which in, the traces of blood are disappeared through the joy of human beings!
I am Zohreh Sabaghnejad, 33 years old, from Iran. I have been doing freelance documentary photography for 5 years. Photography started for me many years ago when I was working as a social worker in a specialized clinic, and I took pictures of people’s lives. In these few years
[ CULTURAL PRACTICES ] A set of photographs that increases the understanding and appreciation of a cultural practice. It can be about festivals, religion, traditions, or contemporary cultural trends. Submissions do not have to adhere to documentary principles. Alternate processes and digital manipulations are allowed. Each submission consists of 5 to 20 images. Each participant is allowed to enter up to 2 submissions. The images must be taken in 2020 or 2021.
Judges for Cultural Practices
