by SAHAR ESFANDIARI
Crime Wave Tehran is a visual research project turned 100-page documentary photo book exploring some of Iran’s most notorious gangsters
Nicknamed “The Eagle of Iran” by his peers because of the golden eagle tattoo on his back, Vahid Moradi was a notorious gangster who spent most of his life in and out of Iranian prisons.
Not much is known about his upbringing or childhood, but throughout
his life, The Eagle served multiple prison sentences for various crimes,
including gang-related fights and being a member of a
criminal organisation.
Moradi is also one of the men profiled in Crime Wave Tehran, a
research project and photo book on Iran’s criminal underworld, edited
and published by Iranian-Dutch artist and researcher Pouria
Khojastehpay in 2018.
Khojastehpay describes “The Eagle” as “a real and respected gangster in every sense”. “He was the main inspiration for the book and my print series,” Khojastehpay told MEE.
In one photograph, Moradi stands with a hand placed respectfully over his heart. He would blend seamlessly into the surrounding crowd were it not for the tattoo of a gun on his hand and the other of a tear drop below his left eye.
Known for being somewhat of a “survivor”, he managed to endure several bullet wounds, before his luck eventually ran out.
In 2018 The Eagle was arrested for the murder of an associate during a party thrown to celebrate his prison release. Soon after, back in jail, he was killed by fellow inmates following a dispute in the prison yard.
Middle East Eye for more