Unlawful Steps

In Islam, marriage is regarded as admirable, a way to meet sexual needs and reinforce chastity. Over the past 14 centuries, Muslims have married based upon the rules, standards and traditions set forth by their religion. Iranian society, ever conservative, is invisibly domineering when marriage is concerned, encouraging young bachelors to marry as a moral duty. Many young men cave to this psychological pressure imposed on them day to day; to remain unmarried, Iranian society says, is to dwell in unhappiness and leads to a life of immorality.
A small minority of Iranian men defies expectations and remains unmarried. The bachelors of Iran cope with the psychological burden of their choice every day of their lives. The pressure builds, attacking their independence and individuality, causing them frequent humiliation and a life of restless frustration. The bachelors avoid expressing themselves publicly, avoiding situations that draw attention and questions about their lives. In photographing these men, I tried to show the loneliness hidden beneath their social façade. I wanted to capture the pressures they face and the balance they strike between the identity they carry and the identity expected of them. By photographing these men while sleeping, I draw a distinction between their solitary existence and their physical isolation. “I have always dreamt of having two kids. A girl and a boy. The Prophet Muhammad says a Muslim who does not marry, his steps on earth are unlawful, I know this and believe it but this is my destiny, I can’t help it ”, says Abbas.