Religious; Arbaeen Walk; South Gate; Los Angeles, California
A congregant of al-Zahrah Mosque videotapes his fellow congregants practicing a Shia mourning ritual, a procession in commemoration of Imam Hossein who was assassinated in 680 AD in contemporary Iraq.
Ehsan Estiri
Tehrangeles Project, Los Angeles, California
Utah State University Libraries
Afsane Rezaei; Ehsan Estiri
Los Angeles, California
A local journalist interviews a non-Muslim bystander woman about the Shia procession. The woman is holding a red rose that was distributed by the ritual participants in the procession route.
A flag with a picture of Imam Hossein. Official Shia jurists do not encourage the imagery of Shia saints, but they tolerate this vernacular practice.
A truck loaded with roses that were given to bystanders.
A young woman in hijab gives roses to passengers of a passing car.
Flyer, "There is No Place for Terrorism in Islam"- 2017
Congregants distribute flyers during the Shia procession, stating "there is no place for terrorism in Islam." The flyers include a quote from the Quran 5:32 that reads: "...whosoever kills an innocent human being, it shall be as if he killed all mankind, and whosoever saves the life of one, it shall be as if he saved the life of all mankind..."
Religious; Ashoura; IMAN Mosque; Motor Avenue; Los Angeles, California
Women attendees of Shia mourning rituals, commemorating the martyrdom of the third Shai Imam-- Imam Hossein in IMAN (Iranian-American Muslim Association of North America). IMAN advocates for a reformed mourning practice that does not involve chest-beating and self-flagellation. Instead, IMAN holds sermons and speeches about Imam Hossein, usually given by non-clerics.
An image of Perseposlise (a symbol of the pre-Islamic Iran) on the top of the library shelves in IMAN (Iranian-American Muslim Association of North America).
Stack of DVDs in IMAN's library (Iranian-American Muslim Association of North America).
Men attending the IMAN's Friday Prayer (Iranian-American Muslim Association of North America).
Men and women attending the IMAN's Friday Prayer (Iranian-American Muslim Association of North America).
Flyers and business cards in IMAN (Iranian-American Muslim Association of North America).
Pamphlets and flyers in IMAN (Iranian-American Muslim Association of North America).
Congregants of IMAN (Iranian-American Muslim Association of North America) light candles which is a conventional practice as part of Shia mourning rituals to commemorate the martyrdom of the third Shia Imam--Imam Hossein.
Socializing after attending sermons and mourning rituals in IMAN (Iranian-American Muslim Association of North America).
Political; Anti-IRI Rally; Wilshire Blvd; Los Angeles, California
The Anti-Islamic Republic of Iran rally in the Westwood area, LA. Flags of the last Iranian monarchy toppled by the 1979 Iranian revolution that led to the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Most demonstrators root for the reestablishment of the monarchy in Iran.
The Anti-Islamic Republic of Iran rally in the Westwood area, LA.
"Mr. President, Help Us Make IRAN Great Again" Sign- 2018
The Anti-Islamic Republic of Iran rally in the Westwood area, LA. Protesters plead with the 45th US president to help Iranians and "make Iran great again."
"A woman holoding placards with pictures of President Obama, Bashar al-Asad, and Putin crossed and printed upside down under a big picture of the 45th US president. The crowd marches and repeats slogans chanted by one of the organizers who say in Farsi, ""these are people's chants in Iran."" The chants are: ""USA, thank you,"" ""what do we want in Iran? Democracy in Iran, human rights in Iran, regime change in Iran,"" ""free political prisoners,"" ""Not Gaza, Not Lebanon, I give my life for Iran,"" ""death to the Islamic Republic,"" ""we. are. Aryans, we don't revere Arabs,"" ""we made a mistake in making a revolution,"" and ""no fear, no fear; we are all together."" "
The sign says in Farsi, "Not Gaza, Not Lebanon, I give my life for Iran."
Man Holding Sign, "Dishonorable Spies of Islamic Republic of Iran in USA"- 2018
A man holding a sign. The Farsi portion of the sign says, "Let Us Disgrace the Dishonorable Spies of Islamic Republic of Iran."
The Anti-Islamic Republic of Iran rally in the Westwood area, LA. Signs such as "Reformist, Principlist, We Are Done with You Both" and "Boycott Phoney [misspelling not mine] Election in Iran" undermined the legitimacy of elections in Iran and rejected reformists and their agenda which values the controlled and incomplete electoral system as the primary means of participation in the government.
People Waving Photos of Donald Trump- 2018
The Anti-Islamic Republic of Iran rally in the Westwood area, LA. Demonstraters wave pictures of the 45th US president and admire his supposed toughness against Iran.
Two American women who had anti-45 signs fervently chanting. They told me they had come to join the rally as they had thought Iranians should be critical of "Islamophobia," "warmongering," "racism," " and "bigotry" of the 45th US president. They had thought the rally could have been the best place to protest against what they called "[45]-Pence regime." Not only were they disappointed but also agitated and began shouting slogans in the face of Monarchists who ignored them.
Man holding a sign in the Anti-Islamic Republic of Iran rally in the Westwood area, LA.
Attari Plaza with Signs in Windows - 2021
Everyday Life; Westwood; Los Angeles, California
Attari Plaza in Westwood, housing a mix of Iranian business from a sandwich shop and grill to notarizing, shipping, and translation services.
Pirnia Law Group Billboard above strip mall - 2021
A billboard in Westwood advertising an Iranian law office, with the tagline "Trust Your Amoo [uncle]." Under the billboard is the Persian ice-cream shop Safron & Rose. On the left is Talasazan gallery, an Iranian jewelry store. To the right is Eshgh [love] Gallery, another Iranian store, next to a pharmacy with Farsi written on its window.
Pars book and publishing window in Westwood, next to Star Gallery an Iranian store/gift shop that sells gold, silver, crystals, rugs, and antiques. The bookstore has a number of other services listed on the window in both Farsi and English, including family and marriage-based green cards, Iranian passport and birth certificate, invitation letter for [US] visa, and official document translations.
Shater Abbas Bakery and Market store front in Westwood, next to "Ketabsara" [house of books] store selling Iranian books, artwork, and music.
Heritage; Rumi Night; Flame International; Los Angeles, California
Heritage; Sadeh Celebration; Zoroastrian Center; Westminster, California
Westminster, California
South Gate, California
Religious; Heyat Reza; Reseda; Los Angeles, California
Religious; Moharram Procession; Downtown; Los Angeles, California
DNO-0132_Religious_Moharram prayers and mourning.mp4
Downtown, Los Angeles, California
An Imam leading the congregational prayer - 2021
An Imam leads the public congregational prayer in downtown Los Angeles. Most worshippers are wearing masks.
Several rows of men and women say prayers as part of the public congregational prayers in downtown Los Angeles
Onlookers at the Moharram Procession - 2021
Bystanders in the sidewalk look at the Shia congregational prayers and procession.
Moharram Procession being lead in prayer - 2021
Long shot of several rows of men and women who say prayers as part of the public congregational prayers in downtown Los Angeles
A male flagbearer holds a very large black flag in the middle of the street. A group of male Shia mourners, all wearing black, and several other flags, can be seen in the background.
A group of male mourners in black shirts participate in the public Shia mourning ritual. A young man beats a large drum while others hit their shoulders with chains.