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Tehran. 1979. When students took over the US Embassy, the gatehouse became a platform. It was there that they burned the American flag in front of the international press.

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Iran: At the Heart of the Revolution

Iran: The Heart of the Revolution

The students at the US Embassy burned the American flag in front of the international press

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In 1979, Reza Deghati and his brother Manoocher photographed the Iranian revolution. In this series, they tells the early years of the revolution through forty of their photographs. The country was experiencing a historic shift: Islam came to power and the world would never be the same again. In this first episode, black chadors take over the city streets.

The revolution through iconic images, such as a shop that sells only black chadors. The colour of mourning

Infinite Shades of Black

Tehran. 1980. Ayatollah Khomeini, pictured alone in an empty room devoid of personality. After 15 years in exile, when Khomeini's plane entered Iranian airspace, he was asked, "How do you feel?" He replied, "Nothing." That was the day that Reza Deghati knew the dreams of his people, of of justice and freedom of his people were over.

What a single picture of Ayatollah Khomeini taken in 1980 said about the future of Iran

Nothing

Tehran. 1980. February. A jubilant crowd celebrated the anniversary of the revolution. Photographer Reza Deghati noticed children in military uniform, enlisting in the army. But now he asks himself: what happened to those kids? 

Iranian children were sent to the front to serve as child soldiers, and many died 

Stolen Childhood

Kurdistan. 1980. In a village being bombed, photographer Reza Deghati could hear hear a group of children reciting the alphabet. He asked the teacher why the school was still open. He said: "The war will be long.Whatever happens, we will ensure the education of our children, so that tomorrow they will continue our struggle for a free and recognized Kurdistan."

In 1980s Kurdistan, children learned their ABCs to the tune of roaring bombs dropping on their village

Resistance

Kurdistan. 1980. The Kurds took part in the struggle against the Shah’s dictatorship as well as the revolution. But when Khomeini arrived, they were called "sons of Satan" and the army relentlessly bombarded their towns and villages. Arrested while reporting, photographer Reza Deghati secretly took this picture of a man awaiting his possible execution, like dozens of others.

The face of a man awaiting possible death

Execution

Kurdistan. Mahabad. 1980. The Revolutionary Guards set dozens of villages in Kurdistan on fire to suppress unrest. There were a few photographers in front of the city hospital. The morgue was full. A man carried his injured child in his arms, and told photographers: “Take a picture. Show the world this injustice ”

A man with his injured child in his arms told photographers: “Take a picture. Show the world this injustice.”

Justice

Kurdistan. Banneh. 1980. In the besieged city, photographer Reza Deghati had tea with an old man and his grandchildren, Peyman and Leila. A moment of peace in the midst of violence. Then he left. Moments later, there was only fire and blood. And the screaming of a mother whose children have been killed in front of her.

Deghati was peacefully having tea with an old man and his family. Seconds later there was only blood and fire

Haunted by Violence

Iran. 1981. Photographer Reza Deghati  was forced to leave Iran. By then, it had become a great cemetery in the middle of the earth, where dark shapes wandered among the graves.

Iran. 1981. Photographer Reza Deghati  was forced to leave Iran. But what he left behind was a dead country

The Biggest Cemetery in the World

Paris. 1983. In Père-Lachaise, one rainy day in November, a long procession of Iranian exiles followed Sa'edi, the thinker and writer, to his final resting place. To die far from home, unable to ever return, is a bitter death. 

To die far from home, unable to ever return, is a bitter death

Exile

Tehran. 1979. On a rainy December morning, Islamist students stormed the US Embassy, ​​holding fifty-three diplomats hostage for 444 days. Reza Deghati  covered the crisis: his images of students holding up photos of hostages made international headlines.

In 1979, Islamist students stormed the US Embassy, ​​holding 53 diplomats hostage for 444 days

The American Hostages

Tehran. American Embassy. 1980. During the hostage crisis at the US Embassy, ​​an art installation was set up, denouncing how the United States puppeteers other countries. But perhaps the 'real' puppets having their strings pulled are the students themselves. 

Art installation denounced the puppeteer role of the US. But perhaps the 'real' puppets are these students...

Puppets of History

Tehran. 1980. On the first anniversary of the Revolution, delirious crowds gathered in the huge central square. Protesters chanted their slogans with such violence it distorted their faces. Faces of the Revolution. Some got so agitated they passed out.

On the Revolution's first anniversary, delirious crowds became so agitated that some even passed out

Mist and Chaos

Tehran. Niavaran Palace. 1979. There's a press conference in the Niavaran Palace, where the Shah and his family once lived. The palace is covered in a thick coat of dust, but everything appears almost as they left it. A mullah comes and sits on the chair. Satisfied, he puts his hands on the armrests and says, "We are the ones who took this throne."

The Palace Frozen in Time

Iran. Ahmadabad. 1979. The regime of the young Islamic Republic decided, against all odds, to celebrate the anniversary of the death of Mossadegh, a symbol of the struggle for democracy. Reza Deghati was allowed to photograph the room where he was buried. The women of his family were present, but already under the surveillance of the future guardians of the revolution.

Even in mourning, the eyes of the revolution are upon you

Guardians of the Revolution

Qom. 1979. During Ashura, the most important celebration of Shia Muslims, the human body - normally totally covered - is exposed as devotees self-flagellate, scratch and cover themselves in mud. Did this man's deformed face herald the monster the regime had just given birth to?

During Ashura, devotees self-flagellate, scratch, and cover themselves in mud

The Mud Monster

Tehran. March 1979. The legality of the new self-proclaimed Islamic republic was affirmed with a sham referendum. A polling station was set up in Khomeini's house and in front of the press, he showed up to vote surrounded by his doting relatives. 

The legality of the new self-proclaimed Islamic republic was affirmed with a sham referendum

A Kiss on the Hand

Tehran. 1979. On the day of the referendum which would formalise and legitimise the new regime, photographer Reza Deghati was at the polling station installed at Khomeini's house. He noticed Khomeini's son had his father's ID in his hands. Deghati asked him if he could take a picture of it, and to his surprise, the son agreed.

On referendum day, Reza Deghati went to the polls at Khomeini's house

Icon of the Revolution

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Iran: The Heart of the Revolution

Iran: At the Heart of the Revolution

Infinite Shades of Black

Nothing

Stolen Childhood

Resistance

Execution

Justice

Haunted by Violence

The Biggest Cemetery in the World

The Show Must Go OnIran: The Heart of the Revolution

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