24 July 2014 | A documentary produced by Shadi Amin, co-founder of Justice for Iran (JFI), to mark the 25th anniversary of the 1988 mass execution of political prisoners won runner up in the documentary category at the 2014 Women’s Voices Now (WVN) Film Festival.
Final Moments is a compilation of testimonies by victims and witnesses recalling horrific experiences of sexual torture, including rape of virgins prior to execution, at the hands of Islamic Republic prison officials. The world premier of this groundbreaking documentary took place on 8 June 2013 during an international symposium hosted by JFI in London, UK, in anticipation of the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture on 26 June. By releasing this production JFI called on the Islamic Republic to uphold its international commitments and domestic laws against torture, more specifically sexual torture.
Final Moments is a compilation of testimonies by victims and witnesses recalling horrific experiences of sexual torture, including rape of virgins prior to execution, at the hands of Islamic Republic prison officials.
Subsequently, the documentary was submitted to the Women’s Voices Now Film Festival, which “aims to portray a deeper understanding of the worldwide issue of sexual violence directed against women, but specifically focus on contributing factors to these global challenges in Muslim-majority societies.” The theme of this year’s festival was “Women Bought & Sold: Voices United Against the Violence” and included films on a wide range of challenges affecting women today. Categories included fiction, documentary, experimental and student. Submissions covered 46 countries in the Middle East, North Africa, Central and South Asia, Europe and North America, while first place winners included submissions from Morocco, Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan.
‘Final Moments’ supplements JFI’s report Crimes and Impunity, an in depth report documenting and analysing close to two hundred witness testimonies on details of torture they or those near or close to them suffered while in custody in Iran. It also supplements Raped out of Paradise, a policy brief outlining illegal Islamic Republic policies against women. Together, they demonstrate the manner in which Islamic Republic authorities, including the current Minister of Justice, have committed acts tantamount to crimes against humanity.
This historic documentary has been viewed by more than a million viewers so far and will be made available through the Festival’s new website as well as its global and university tours in the coming weeks and months. In addition to Final Moments, Shadi Amin has produced a number of important documentaries, including Beijing Conference and Exiled Women, Exiled opposition and Berliner Konferenz and Endless Nights of Women Prisoners.
JFI dedicates this victory to all Iranian women subjected to sexual violence and torture; and honours the memory of those young virgins who were violently raped and executed.
