Aks Kos - Irani 2021

Iranians often joke that the government is trying to make the passport photo so ugly that no one will want to leave the country. But the real reason is biometric security. Iran uses a specific facial recognition algorithm that relies on the 45-degree angle to map the bridge of the nose and the cheekbone structure. It is one of the most complex facial recognition systems in the world—ironically attached to a passport that few countries accept for visa-free travel.

Smiling is a crime. Frowning is a crime. Showing teeth is a federal offense. Your mouth must be closed. Your eyebrows must be relaxed. Your eyes must be open, but not wide. You must look like you have just been told that your flight is delayed by 12 hours, but you are trying to be polite about it. aks kos irani

For women, this is the most stressful part. The Rou-sari (headscarf) must cover the entire hair, the ears, and the neck. Not a single stray curl is allowed. However, the scarf cannot cast a shadow on the forehead or cheeks. And the scarf must be dark (usually black or dark brown), but not so dark that it merges with the background. The result? A strange, floating head phenomenon. Because the background is also white, and the scarf is black, the photo looks like a disembodied face with a slice of darkness where the hair should be. Iranians often joke that the government is trying