Pulitzer Winner Honored 27 Years Later

WSJ

Twenty-six years ago, a picture of an execution in Iran won the Pulitzer Prize. But the man who took it remained anonymous. Until last year (2006). He was the only anonymous recipient in the 90-year history of the award. Mr. Razmi preserved 27 of the photos on a contact sheet and stowed it away in his home.

On Aug. 27, 1979, two parallel lines of 11 men formed on a field of dry dirt in Sanandaj, Iran. One group wore blindfolds. The other held rifles. The command came in Farsi to fire: "Atesh!" Behind the soldier farthest to the right, a 12th man also shot, his Nikon camera and Kodak film preserving in black and white a mass execution. See the rest of the photos by clicking here.


Today, Associated Press reports that the Iranian photographer who was anonymously awarded a Pulitzer Prize in 1980 for capturing a chilling image of men before a firing squad was honored Monday at a ceremony for this year's winners.

The identity of Jahangir Razmi had been kept secret out of concern for his safety but was revealed in December by The Wall Street Journal with the photographer's permission.
"It's a very nice feeling. I've waited for 27 years, and I've always been longing for this day," Razmi said through an interpreter just before the ceremony at Columbia University.
The photo depicted a line of 11 blindfolded men executed by a firing squad in 1979, winning the Pulitzer for Spot News Photography - the only time in Pulitzer history that the board gave an anonymous award.
Razmi was presented with a certificate and $10,000 in award money. The slender, salt and pepper-haired man did not address the gathering.

The mother and sister of two of the men in the photo were present. Joshua Prager, the Journal reporter who revealed Razmi's identity, also attended.

As he was heading back to his table, Monir Nahid, who witnessed the execution of her sons Ahsan, 23 and Shahrivar, 20, tearfully embraced Razmi. Her daughter, Roya Nahid, sitting nearby, also cried openly. Both women are Kurds who now live in Orange County, Calif.

Where are the Washington National Cathedral and St. Andrews University that rewarded president Khatami, the man who directed the violent anti-student clampdown during his rule, with an honorary degree. Don't they think he is worthy of being rewarded? Is it because he is not as rich as Khatami to donate money to the University?