“Makwan: a letter from Paradise” is a video-poem by Roberto Malini and Dario Picciau dedicated to 21-year-old Makwan Moloudzadeh who was hung in prison on December 2007 while the international campaign to save his life was collecting signatures and gaining momentum all over the world.
Iranian Kurd Makwan Moloudzadeh was sentenced to death for rape when he was 13 years old. He was hanged on December 5, 2007 in the morning at a prison in Kermanshah province in western Iran. Makwan was executed despite teh boys who had alleged him of rape, withdrew their accusations. A judicial review and stay of execution was ordered into the sentence but ignored by local authorities. Nothing was done to the local authorities for carrying the death sentence.
In a statement titled “crocodile tears on the cheeks of divisionists” the public relations of the courts of city Kermanshah , where Makwan Moloudzadeh was executed , referred to Makwan as a “villain with background”. They referred to the execution as the mean to bring the “sense of security” and “public satisfaction”. The local judiciary blamed the “centers of creation of propaganda” for the lying about Makwan. They further blamed Makwan’s attorney for abusing words such as “innocent” and “child” in order to influence the public emotions.
It was reported that thousands of local residents attended Makwan’s funeral. Makwan died an innocent boy. He has become a symbol, both in Iran and throughout the world, for all those who are committed to fighting the inhuman logic of the death penalty.
Thousands of activists all over the world had made a desperate appeal to the authorities and sent them white and red flowers in an attempt to stop the executioner taking his young life. At his funeral a large crowd of townspeople accompanied Makwan’s mortal remains, and prayed that his sacrifice would serve to save other human lives by inviting those in power and the judges to realise the horror of the death penalty. This video-poem was made with the support of the Moloudzadeh family, and Makwan’s Uncle Mahmoud who lives in Germany.
Two great actors have given their important contribution to the work, lending their voices to this message to humanity: Emiliano Coltorti in the Italian version; Norman Nawroski in the English version. “Makwan: a Letter from Paradise” opposes the death sentence and its terrible significance (which embodies hatred and revenge) with a respect for life; because murder constitutes, without exception, the greatest possible violation of human rights.
To read more about Makwan visit: http://scenews.blog.com/Makwan%20Moloudzadeh/
WARNING: GRAPHIC FILM