Green Screams

Photo essay: Slogans on walls in Iran

by Paymaneh Amiri
02-Sep-2009
 
In the aftermath of the June uprising and the brutal ways in which peaceful protesters were beaten, murdered, imprisoned, raped, and tortured, Iranians have begun to define their own forms of civil disobedience from boycotting products advertised on state run IRIB, to nightly chanting Allah-o-Akbar on their rooftops, to turning off their electricity during state officials' TV appearances. One of the most effective methods of public disobedience for Iranians has become writing their thoughts on city walls. The explosion of "green graffiti" has put the Iranian authorities in a position of hiring people whose job it is to erase or to write over wall-written slogans of protest against the rigged elections, an illegitimate president, and most prominently the ruthless Supreme Leader of Iran, or in support of Mir Hossein Mousavi. People are also using the internet to disseminate information about making stencils for rapid marking of their selected walls. Divar Nevisi (writing on walls) is taking place all over Iran now. Here are some photographs of city walls from Zanjan to Isfahan, Mashad to Shiraz, Tehran to Kerman and even Qom. I have been collecting these images from different blogs and websites for a few weeks now. I would like to share them with you.
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more from Paymaneh Amiri
 
mostafa ghanbari

To all of you

by mostafa ghanbari on

mg

I hope all your beautiful dreams for your beautiful land and nation come  true; but I have something to tell you my dear genuine brothers and sisters: As far as I can understand a ruler God and religion, can never, ever secure the justice and equality which are the vital necessities for a human society which is going to undergo new changes.

My point is that if the leaders of Green MOVEMENT have changed the colour of GOD AND ISLAM and believe that a GREEN GOD AND A GREEN ISLAM are much more better than black, yellow, purple,or grey ones, we  must be aware of this movement. If  the Green movement's architects are going to let the RELIGION and POLITICS sleep in the same room and perhaps share a bed together,it means they are another group of religious leaders who has no intention other than ruling and ruling...........

 


American Dream

The green movement

by American Dream on

The green movement proved bogus when the reformists backed Ahmadinejad's cabinet. We must move passed the green movement and look to change Iran for the better.


yolanda

Dear Che khabar

by yolanda on

Mr. M attacked me before, so I know his track record.

thanks,

yolanda


che khabar e

yolanda jaan

by che khabar e on

You are rreally a clever girl, to know so much about people (mehdi) in such a short time!  I am impressed.  :-)


fatemeholfati

Neda Agha-Soltan (1982-2009) Neda’s Virtual Eternal Monument

by fatemeholfati on

I think all of us have a duty to keep her memory alive. The image of Neda's last few moments  will forever remain in our history as a turning point where the future course of  our lives changed forever and ever. Neda's innocent face will haunt the tyrants of Iran and there is no turning point and there is no other option but to stand against forces of darkness. Recently I came across a site which has been set up in her memory at www.nedayema.org


Anonymouse

Power to the people!

by Anonymouse on

Power to the people! 

Everything is sacred.


yolanda

Paymaneh Amiri

by yolanda on

Thank you for your post! Great job! Mehdi is one of the loneliest dudes on Iranian.com! Even though not a lot of people are on his side, he is still going "strong", he must have heard the "calling" doing this! I pity and "admire" him at the same time! 

yolanda


Paymaneh Amiri

Mehdi

by Paymaneh Amiri on

It was not clear to me that you were serious in your earlier comment.  It appeared that you were jesting or just being contrary.  If you are serious, you are also wrong.

The slogans written on city walls in Iran are not written by irresponsible and lazy people, and they are not disgusting.  They are one of the few things people can do to show their disgust with a brutal and dictatorial regime which shuts down papers, arrests and tortures jouranlists, activists, unionists, and students, disrupts peaceful protests through shooting its unarmed citizens, rigs its own limited choice elections, and kills every voice of dissent amongst its population. 

Writing graffiti on city walls is not an Iranian invention.  It is a form of social protest.  In Iran it is a form of civil disobedience against a tyrannical rule.  It is an activity that though dangerous for its consequences and potential punishment, can be rather easily performed.  It does not require more than one person to do, and the effects of it are relatively far reaching.

I am a bit confused about the nature of your disgust.  What about all of this is disgusting you?  That city streets are not kept in pristine shape?  Or the messages themselves?  Why are you disgusted?

I believe Iranians who close their eyes on the atrocities of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Ali Khamenei and their army of thugs and murderers are disgusting.  Furthermore, I believe people who sit in the comfort of their western households and comfortably enjoy the freedoms the west offers them but insist that Iranians remain oppressed and suppressed and brutalized without speaking a word or protesting are lazy and irresponsible.  Defending the indeffensible IRI and its methods of cracking down on Iranians is what I cannot simply call disgusting.  I would have to call that pure evil.


Mona 19

Yes pat yourselves on the back...

by Mona 19 on

"Does this mean I nailed it, and there is nothiing else to be said?"

by savage beatings, sextual humilation, murdering, unlawful detention of thousands innocent people, using extreme violence, and willingness to terrorize and intimidate your own hamvatans to stay in power ... I guess in your dictionary that means, you really nailed it!!!

Mona


yolanda

Iranians.......

by yolanda on

Iranians are not stupid! They are doing graffiti not for the sake of graffiti. They are doing graffiti 'cause they are fed up with the IRI system!

yolanda


Mehdi

I feel like I never get an answer lately

by Mehdi on

Just emotional outbursts and no real comeback. Does this mean I nailed it, and there is nothiing else to be said?


khaleh mosheh

Mehdi

by khaleh mosheh on

Its a shame that you are disgusted.

My heart bleeds for you... I just hope that your disgust does not cause you any permenat damage..that will be truly dreadful. 


secular

Yes!

by secular on

Civil Disobedience - A perfect method to fight against oppressive rule - dictatorship! When institutions use their authority to shut people down, then people will eventually voice their outrage! This is only the begining - the best thing happened for Iran was the re-Selection of Ahmadinejad  (only if they knew) Now, let the clergies and any other backward members of this regime suffer the consequences of their actions!  Power to the people!!! oh yah...

 Thx for sharing the pictures - absolutely love'em!!!  


Mona 19

A commenter said ...

by Mona 19 on

This is only the work of irresponsible lazy people who are criminals and want power, fame

I say This is only the work of irresponsible lazy people who are criminals and want power ====>شکنجه دانشجوی محروم از تحصیل / به همراه تصاویر

Mona 

 


Mehdi

I am disgusted

by Mehdi on

Why the ugly graffiti? Is it really necessary or useful? Instead of such disgusting actions, these people should stop smoking their opium and marijuana and start a group and get people to join in for a good cause. Of course if their "good cause" is to destroy the government first, well, good luck! But if they really want to do something constructive, who is stopping them? This is only the work of irresponsible lazy people who are criminals and want power, fame and want to do nothing to deserve it - just give it to them. Disgusting.


Mehdi

So we all need to go buy milk now?

by Mehdi on

I believe Neda was on her way to buy milk when this tragedy happened. Does this mean now that we all should go buy milk? How do we "follow her path?"


yolanda

My favorite..

by yolanda on

My favorite are #4, #21, #40, and #44.

#44 is the best 'cause it is bi-lingual! It looks like it was spray-painted thru a template, great job! Way more professional than LA's graffiti taggers! Thanks for recording a piece of Iranian history for us!


Princess

Thanks for sharing!

by Princess on

"Snowflakes are one of nature's most fragile things, but just look what they can do when they stick together."

- Vesta M. Kelly