Farnoush Djavaheripour, as photographed by Mahsa Alikhani.
Zoorkhaneh, also known as Pahlavāni, is an ancient Iranian sport with roots dating back to more than 4,000 years. It combines strength, coordination, rhythm, poetry, and philosophy. In 2010, it was inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
Zoorkhaneh is grounded in the core ethic of “Javānmardī”, which refers to the code of the courageous youth who are called to safeguard the vulnerable and uphold communal values of altruism and respect. Therefore, “We Are Zoorkhaneh” seeks to renew that spirit and model societies across religious, political, and cultural differences.
