Zahra's paradise: the Iranian woman running for president

Zahra is the protagonist of a web graphic novel called Zahra's Paradise, external. She's also a virtual candidate for Iran's elections this year.

Amir and Khalil, the two authors of Zahra's Paradise, launched the virtual campaign as a creative way to challenge power and involve people from across the world.

They have a Facebook page and a webpage where people can virtually vote for Zahra, take photos of themselves with her posters, but also send postcards and buy trinkets.

The novel deals with the struggle of a mother who lost her son in the protests in Iran in 2009 and was first launched online.

"The internet combined with a graphic novel allows us to break down all the barriers of time and space," says Amir.

Zahra, although fictional, is the first woman to run for office in Iran.

Produced by Anna Bressanin, Images by Ilya Shnitser and Shadi Rahimi