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Tehran rooftop protest wins World Press Photo 2009 award

Iran Materials 12 February 2010 15:41 (UTC +04:00)
Italian freelance photographer Pietro Masturzo won Friday the World Press Photo 2009 for his picutre of Iranian women protesting from a Tehran rooftop.
Tehran rooftop protest wins World Press Photo 2009 award

Italian freelance photographer Pietro Masturzo won Friday the World Press Photo 2009 for his picutre of Iranian women protesting from a Tehran rooftop.

The organisation's international jury announced the decision choosing the photo of Iranian women calling out while standing on a rooftop in the capital Tehran, protesting against the country's presidential elections' results, DPA reported.

Masturzo took the picture on June 24, in the wake of the elections.

During that period, many Iranians protested against the election results by standing on buildings' rooftops by night, while rallying on the streets during daytime.

"The picture adds perspective to the news," Swedish-Turkish jury chairman Ayperi Karabuda Ecer of Reuters said.

South African photographer and jury member Guy Tillim said "the site of this picture is beautiful by itself, but the image of the women calling out, raises our curiosity."

A total of 5,847 photos from 128 countries were entered in the contest. After two weeks of deliberations, the jury awarded prizes to 63 photographers from 23 countries.

It was the 53rd time the World Press Photo, one of the most prestigious annual photo journalism prizes, was awarded.

The first exhibition with the award-winning images is to open to the public on April 23 until June 20 in Amsterdam. The exhibition is then to travel to some 100 cities in 45 countries.

On February 19, first World Pride Award, the gay version of the World Press Photo, is to be announced. The competition, launched to increase tolerance towards and acceptance of gays, was initiated by Dutch gay organisations. If successful, it will be held annually.

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