Jackstraw

Amir Pourmond A.P.

I think that the most powerful photograph I have seen in a long time was the photo of this moment just prior to the execution of the two young men in Iran recently. One of the men, Alireza Mahifa, sentenced to die, leans his head on his executioner's shoulder in incredible sorrow.

The men were pretty despicable creatures, they had hacked somebody up with a machete and then posted the footage of the attack on youtube. Mounted on motorbikes, they injured the man and then stole his bag and jacket, netting about $20.00. Irrespective of their perfidy, the emotion in this photograph is compelling. Alireza Mafiha and Mohammad Ali Sarvari were 20 and 23 and lived in Tehran. People flocked to the hanging like ravens.

 “We needed the money because of poverty; I am sorry,” said Mr. Mafiha back in December. The crowds jostled for a better view of the two nooses that hung 15' from extended cranes. I thought that one of the quotes of a friend was interesting;

“This is not fair,” said one young man, crying loudly while being dragged away by another friend. “If they hadn’t been caught on camera this would have never happened to them.”

Ebrahim Nooroozi /A.P.