13
Aug
Skateboard Inline Skating BMX – Graffiti, Hip-Hop, Sk8s: Tehran’s Young Rebels Battle the Crackdown
For a few hours on a recent evening, the headaches of keeping a step ahead of Iran’s notorious security forces begin to fade. Skateboarders, BMX bikers and aggressive inline skaters zip down the quarter-pipe in their baggy street wear, pumping their arms whenever they land a tricky move. Small groups of teens from relatively well-off families, some still in middle school, stand on the sidelines staring in awe while beats spin over the booming speakers.
The capital’s only skate park is a rare refuge for some of the country’s restless and burgeoning youths, allowing them to congregate without being harassed by the feared Basij militia. Under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s rule  … Details