A young generation of Iranians are reclaiming their country by reconnecting with nature.The intensifying international sanctions and a collapsing economy has the made the future hard to imagine for many Iranians. Despite the pressures and struggles, an increasingly restless young Iranians are hiking and camping across Iran, quietly breaking traditional social norms and religious restrictions. In recent years, more citizens are using public spaces in Iran in the way they like, discovering its mountains, forests and islands for the first time. The open spaces offer an escape from the quiet violence and mental war that has washed over their lives.
Iran is gradually changing but some of those changes have been enormous and the walls that divided Iranians before is gradually crumbling. Private moments are gradually creeping outdoors and becoming noticeable - unmarried couples embracing each other, women without headscarves, dancing and playing music. The same dreams of freedom and independence that inspired the 1979 revolution are playing out in quiet acts of resilience.
The backpacking culture in Iran is a reflection of how young Iranians are actively creating new futures for themselves despite the odds and building social spaces free from government interference. Young Iranians continue to dream and fight for their dreams.
