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Young Iranian Street Artists Battle the Crackdown

          
          Young Iranian Stitet Mists Battle the Cmokdown - T 4E http://www.time oom/tim&world/article/O, 8599, 1915342,00,html?iid—d,,
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          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, standon the
          sidelines staring in awe while beats spin over the booming speakers.
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          The capital's only skate park is a rare refuge for
          som e of the country ‘s restless and burgeoning
          youths, allowing them to congregate without
          being harassed by the feared Basij militia.
          Under President MahmoudAhmadinejad's rule
          and particularly since the disputed June 12
          election, when thousands of angry teens and
          20-somethings took to the streets, the religious
          police have cracked down on this sort of
          rebellious youth culture, driving it further
          underground. “These artists are at the same
          level as those in the West, but they're working
          under the most incredible pressures,” explains
          an Iranian electro-music producer who is in his
          20s. “If they're arrested here, the end of the
          road is execution.”
          (See pictures olpeople around the world protesting the
          Iranian election.)
          That is not to say these musicians, artists and
          skater punks have been cowed into silence;
          rather, their influence in a country where 2
          out of3 are under the age of3o, with many
          hungry for Western cultural imports, has
          perhaps never been greater. In the run-up to
          the presidential election, many young voters
          were eagerly trading CD mix tapes featuring
          underground artists — practically all working
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          By TIME STAFF Filthy, Aug. 07, 200
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          Young Iranian Sti et Artists Battle the Cmckdown - TIME http://www.time. comltime/world/aiticle/O, 8599, 1915342,00.html?iidd...
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