Pulitzer Prize Luncheon Remarks 2007

Low Library, Columbia University – May 21, 2007

Joann Byrd

Special Presentation to Jahangir Razmi

The Pulitzer Prize has been given only once to an anonymous winner. It was the 1980 Spot News Photography prize, awarded to "an unnamed photographer."

Thanks to Joshua Prager of the Wall Street Journal, we learned last December 2nd who took the photo, "Firing Squad in Iran." Joshua Prager, your reporting is the reason we know this story. Please stand a moment.

Jahangir Razmi was working for the Iranian newspaper, Ettela'at when he got permission to photograph the execution of 11 Kurdish men sentenced to death by the new theocracy in Iran. It was August 27, 1979 in Kurdistan. Razmi shot his Nikon freely as the blindfolded men were led to a dusty field and lined up before their executioners. He stood behind the rifleman on the right end, and when the command came to fire, he captured the split-second of men being struck alongside men waiting to be hit.

The editor of his newspaper feared Razmi would be in danger, so ran his photo with no credit line. The UPI bureau chief in Tehran transmitted it to the world with no name. After it appeared around the world, UPI's managing editor entered it for the Pulitzer Prize, explaining, "Because of the present unrest in Iran, the name of the photographer cannot be revealed at this time."

For 26 years, Razmi kept a contact sheet of 27 of the 70 frames he shot that day, and eight prints. He did not come forward even when others claimed credit for his picture. Only when Josh Prager found him, only after an evening's discussion with his family did Razmi decide to let the world learn who took that powerful photograph.

Two people here today were profoundly interested in Razmi's identity. Monir Nahid is the mother of two young men executed that day. Roya Nahid is their sister. We thank both of you for joining us from Los Angeles.

Sig Gissler has found the statement of the Spot News Photography jury to the Pulitzer Board in 1980. This is what the jury said: "Anonymous' photograph of the Iranian firing squad was clearly the most outstanding submission this year, and is probably the single most important photograph of 1979. It is not only a picture of enduring and memorable quality but also has the power to shape the viewer's feeling about a compelling international crisis. The photograph reads quickly; there is no doubt in the viewer's mind what is going on."

Due to complicated arrangements accomplished by Sig, Jahangir Razmi is here today, with his wife, Parvin. Jahangir Razmi, please come forward.

Razmi will receive the Pulitzer Prize certificate and $10,000--the amount that comes with the 2007 prize.

You've been waiting a long time for this: Congratulations for winning the 1980 Pulitzer Prize for Spot News Photography.