They are born as migrants; their homeland exists in the hearts and minds of their parents, a place where floods, droughts, and lack of personal security have led them to consider Iran a haven. They associate themselves with a lack of identity and illiteracy, accepting begging in the streets and collecting garbage as part of their lives. Marriage decisions are solely made by their parents. As children, they experience an atmosphere alongside their parents that does not belong to them, and this acceptance of poor conditions and the religious and traditional beliefs of their parents prevents them from striving for a better future. They are like leaves released into stagnant water, providing no benefit to themselves or society outside.

According to Article 5 of the Iranian Citizenship Law (Article 976 of the Iranian Civil Code), Iranian citizenship is granted to individuals born in Iran whose fathers are non-Iranian and who have resided in Iran for at least one year before the age of 18.

Pakistani migrants, due to fear of deportation or lack of awareness of their rights, usually refrain from approaching judicial authorities to assert their rights.

Pakistani migrants, due to the fear of being deported or due to the unawareness of their rights, usually refrain from approaching the judiciary to claim their rights.

This project was accepted for the Sheed Iran Documentary Photography Award in 2019. After 17 years of working in sports photojournalism, this is my first documentary photography experience, focusing on Pakistani migrants. 

You can watch the published video at the end.