Often the writing and photography that win Pulitzer Prizes require heroic efforts on the part of journalists. For one recipient this year, the process of receiving the award also took an enormous effort.
In 1979, a photographer stood nearby as executioners shot Kurdish prisoners in Sanandaj, Iran. A picture he took for an Iranian newspaper was picked up by United Press International and published worldwide. To protect the photographer, his name was not printed.
But the image proved so compelling that it was awarded the 1980 Pulitzer Prize for spot news photography. It was the first and still the only time that the Pulitzer, the highest honor in print journalism, has been given to an anonymous winner. That was 27 years ago.
This month – the night before the Pulitzer ceremony, the mother and sister of two of the Iranians who were executed attended a dinner and met Jahangir Razmi for the first time. “I looked at him, and I couldn’t control myself,” said the sister, Roya Nahid, who is 51 and lives in California. “He was the last person to see my brother.”
The compelling part of this tale still is the photograph. Photographs of war – when not part of a PR campaign – often tell us more truth than any politician wants. From the Spanish Civil War to VietNam, individual talents have brought us memorable images. Images our hypocrite governments would never have allowed on their own.
Too often news photography requires being in the right place at the right time. Too often, that right place and right time requires being in the most forsaken and dangerous situation imaginable.
Congratulations Mr. Jahangir Razmi.
Did he get signed releases from the people being executed or the executioners? Did he clear the photo through the local military? Gotta respect the feelings of those in the photos, regardless of the news value of the image.
I just realized that blindfolding the eyes of innocent people being executed is probably more for the benefit of those who are doing the shooting.
I wonder what the soldiers thought these Kurds had done?
RBG
#3, A good soldier never questions his orders.
But I too wonder what they would have thought.
#1, Congratulations Mr. Jahangir Razmi.
Ditto, Mr. Fusion
#3..RBG…they were Kurdish rebals. They had tried to win a free Kurdish state in that area of Iran. They felt the Ayatollah Kohimani had betrayed them and so they rebeled. They lost.
They have been fighting since 2004 in the same area, against Iran on one side of the border, and Turkey on the other side of the border. Now they get aid through the autonomus Kurdish region of Iraq.
Oissing off the Iranians I hear.
#6, They are just trying to win a little piece of dirt they can call their own. Without overlords. Without a different religion imposed over their’s. With their taxes being used to better that piece of dirt. With their own police enforcing their own laws. Without being arrested and held for years without charge. Very similar to the Palestinians.
Man, I hate that photo.
I still remember feeling sickened and assaulted when I first saw it as a kid. It has a snuff film quality to it.
That’s why the Pulitzer committee probably chose it, Greg. Good news photography conveys all the appropriate human responses.
A worse problem is the sickos who “get” the opposite message. Back when the photo appeared during the VietNam War, I worked with a redneck who was so impressed with the photo of that flunky copper shooting a suspect through the head – that he went out and bought a stainless S&W Chief Commander to match.
Experiencing revulsion to the worst things humans do to each other – is the healthy part.
I have mixed feelings about what you say. The photo, above, STILL makes me feel a little ill and I agree that is the appropriate emotion.
However, here in the Arab world, for instance, they shows gruesome photos in newspapers, on Al Jazeera, etc etc. It seems like it has a desensitizing affect rather than generating sympathy,
(but I concede this is just my own personal impression. )
6 & 7.
But surely those Kurds wouldn’t have killed anyone. Even if they were fighting for their principles in a war. And if they did, I wonder what kind of a photo that would have made? But they must be innocent, otherwise the picture’s not as powerful. It’s just a filmed execution.
/s
RBG
#7…..yep…and I support their efforts. Three nations, Iran, Iraq and Turkey have done their best to blot these people out for the last 80 years. With the Kurdish area of Iraq doing so well economically and with a fairly strong democratic tradition, both Iran and Turkey are increasing the pressure in fear of them all declaring independence.
And lets not forget the Armenians, both in Turkey and what used to be the USSR also fighting a losing battle to be free again.
#11…RBG….it is a picture of an execution. The Kurds in the photo were captured Kurdish rebels and the guys shooting them were Iranian special forces. They were executed on the orders of the Ayatollah Koehmani in 1979.
when i see this picture it makes me wanna cry
we kurds are still suffering
what you see in this picture is nothing compared to the things that
are still happening with the kurds this instant
……