Women of Darvazeh Ghar - 2018

 

Darvazeh Ghar is not just any place: it is the place where people end up when they no longer have the possibility to live somewhere else, the last resort of Theran.

Historically one of the oldest neighborhoods in Theran today populated by the weakest fringes of society or those who are not part of society, like the Afghan immigrants who since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 continue to take refuge in Iran.

 

The walls burned by the bonfires of the junkies that heat up; small intersections turn into drug dealing squares, children's parks invaded by junkies, and while women and children think about supporting their families, working from an early age, men spend time on the street, rummaging in bins collecting waste to sell, to pay for the next dose. And when the money is not enough, all that remains is to resort to prostitution and, in worst scenario, to child traffiking.

 

There are between 3 and 4 million Afghans in Iran. Not even a third have documents in order. Being an Afghan refugee means being subjected to daily discrimination and forced repatriation. It means not being able to own a car, a house, a bank account, medical insurance. Human Rights Watch reports that many undocumented Afghan children face bureaucratic obstacles that prevent them from attending school, in violation of international law.