To deprive the future: revenge in Iranian

Splash acid in the face. According to official statistics, this act of violence is extremely popular in Iran. It is terrible because it mainly affects women and children. Such punishment for victims is not just uncontrolled aggression or a desire for revenge. The "guilty" is actually doomed to lack of a future.

The consequences of such revenge: chemical burns, loss of vision, terrible scars on the face. Acid is a black mark, a cruel form of social stigmatization. Most often occurs in a family conflict: rejected a marriage proposal, asks for a divorce. But in a fit of rage, the guardians of imaginary morality can find hundreds of reasons to commit lynching.

Iranian photographer Asghar Kamseh in a series of portraits Fire of Hatred ("Fire of Hatred") tells the stories of people who were attacked by their relatives or acquaintances. Victims of the "Iranian revenge" across the country are in dire need of financial support and medical care. Unfortunately, there are no state organizations or NGOs in Iran that would help them. Women have to treat the severe consequences of chemical burns on their own or resort to the help of charitable organizations. But, as it often happens, there is not enough goodness for everyone.

Shirin Mohamadi. An 18-year-old resident of Tehran. On the first day of 2012, Shirin rejected a man, refusing to marry him. After the refusal, the groom found Shirin's behavior offensive and retaliated by pouring acid on her. The woman lost her right eye, ear, and her mouth was badly damaged. There were deep burns all over his body. She has undergone several surgeries, but the difficult rehabilitation process is not over yet.

Raana Por Amrai, 38, and Fatima Qalandari, 8, both live in the Iranian city of Khorramabad. Raana's brother-in-law was sure that the woman had advised his wife to file for divorce. In July 2015, he took revenge on Raana for allegedly destroying the family by pouring acid on them and their daughter. Raana's face, eyes, and part of her neck were burned. Fatima's back, arms and palms were badly injured.

Makhnaz Kazemi, 39 years old. Now the woman lives 130 km from Tehran, in the city of Qom. Mahnaz's husband was always cruel to her and often beat her. The woman decided to file for divorce. Despite the periodic beatings, Mahnaz always remained a beauty. After learning that his wife was demanding a divorce, Mahnaz's husband deprived her of her beauty by pouring acid on her.

Masumeh Ahai, 32 years old, Isfahan city. In 2008, she divorced her husband. Two years later, Masumeh's father-in-law took revenge for his son and doused the woman with acid. As a result of the attack, Masumeh became blind in both eyes.

Zivar Parvin, 37 years old. After her husband's death, Zivar proposed to her brother-in-law. Then the woman refused. On the night of July 9, 2011, her brother-in-law, along with his first wife, poured acid on Zivar and her 18-year-old daughter Jasra while they were sleeping. 18 days after the attack, Jasra died. In his hands, Zivar holds a photo of his daughter before the attack.

Mariam Zamani, 38, and Arezo Hashemi Nizhad, 13. Both are residents of Tehran. In 2010, Mariam's brother's wife doused a sleeping woman and her three daughters with acid. Such cruelty was dictated only by envy. In the photo — Mariam and one of her daughters Azero.

Mohsen Mortazavi, 34 years old. In 2012, on his first working day, Mohsen was brutally attacked by his colleague, who poured three liters of acid on the man, then inflicted several stab wounds. The attacker was sure that Mohsen had made fun of him several times, and in this way decided to take revenge. Later it turned out that Mohsen did not even think of playing a colleague. The man miraculously survived, but remained mutilated for life.

Somaye Mehri, 29 years old, Bam. Somaye's "fault" is that the woman decided to divorce her husband. The response was an attack on her and her daughter Raana in June 2011. Then both lost their right eye. 4 years after the attack, Somaye died from the severe effects of chemical burns. In the photo, Raana with a picture of her mother.