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What's It Like Traveling to Iran?
Fair Observer spoke to Dutch filmmaker and photographer Reinier van Oorsouw. Take a look at his work in this photo essay.
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Iran is a country with a rich culture. Those who know about its ancient history probably agree that it shouldn't be judged based on the events after the 1979 revolution. Indeed, there are many people across the globe who simply know Iran through the mainstream media's portrayal of the oil-rich nation and the stereotypes associated with it: a theocratic, anti-Western country with a controversial nuclear program.
Reinier van Oorsouw is a filmmaker and photographer from the Netherlands who has a keen interest in travel. He often visits places that are not common to the average person. In a five-episode documentary titled "Iran: Is It Really That Bad?" Reinier sheds light on the unseen aspects of life in the country.
Fair Observer spoke to van Oorsouw about his documentary and his observations of the country.Â
Below are excerpts from the interview and photos and videos displaying his work. (Click here to read the full interview.)
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"Whenever Iran is in the news, it is about something negative. That made me skeptical - can a country be as bad as the media depicts it as? I wanted to investigate for myself"
"The general public thinks Iran is "unsafe," a sandy country at war. But that's just based on bias. The most notable misconception is that people think everyone is a religious fanatic."
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"I found people on the street to be warm, friendly and interested, rather than the "angry Western-hating" stereotype people might have in mind. We were invited into people's houses on almost a daily basis. Overall, Iran was one of my best travel experiences."
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"Whenever I said to people in Iran that I was on holiday, the response I got was a very surprised one. It's a bit like people feel inferior due to the image that's portrayed about the country. Some asked me, 'Weren't you afraid?'"
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"I met people fully covered in tattoos, with colored hair, etc. This might be a way of rebelling within the boundaries of the law."
"Iran is full of culture and history, nature comes in many shapes and sizes, and people are all very friendly and warm. There are plenty of reasons to visit."
*[Click here to read our full interview with Reinier van Oorsouw.]
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Fair Observer's editorial policy.