When protests broke out in dozens of cities in Iran recently, everybody had different opinions, but no one wanted to come in front of my camera. Afraid.

Documentation of anti-government protests is complex in Iran, where not only the government cares about your opinion, but also the society. Families can disagree. Cousins can have opposing idea’s.
Saying your opinion can disturb the peace.
The mistrust among people and phobia to be recognized by the authorities, families and in the neighborhood or at work are deep rooted in this paranoiac country.
Some fear they might be arrested on basis of the photographs, others don't want their acquaintances to know what they really think.

Photography can be a blunt tool, get attention, but also incite fear. "Don't show my face," is what you hear over and over again in Iran during tense times.

Because of that we lack images of many historic events, protests and upheaval in Iran. Usually, against their will, sometimes forced, photographers stay home, waiting for everything to be over.

When ever I shoot a protest, I become fearful for the authorities to use my work for their own benefit and ask people to identify those on the pictures. "Help us find these rioters," they say, showing the images on state television and pro-government websites. Also people use images of security forces to ask to identify them on social media. What ever you do, people might get in trouble.

For the sake of documenting, to go beyond the blurry cellphone footages, I decided to take portraits of people, and ask their opinions. I gave in to their request to hide their faces. This way they can't be accused, but talk freely.

-Newsha Tavakolian